Nebraska Tornado & Hail Guide

Nebraska averages approximately 57 tornadoes per year. The state spans the transition from the high plains of the west to the more humid climate of the east, and both regions experience significant severe weather. Nebraska is notable for producing some of the most photogenic supercell thunderstorms in the country, drawing professional storm chasers each spring.

Nebraska Tornado Season

The primary tornado season runs May through July, with June as the most active month — a slightly later peak than Kansas and Oklahoma to the south. Tornadoes occur statewide, but the central and eastern portions of the state (including the Omaha and Lincoln metros) see the most frequent significant events.

Nebraska Hail Season

Nebraska regularly experiences damaging hail from April through August. The state is known for producing extremely large hailstones, and hailstone records have been broken in Nebraska multiple times. The 2010 Vivian, South Dakota record hailstone (8.0″ diameter) formed from the same storm system that impacted northern Nebraska.

Historical Significant Events

• 1975 Omaha tornado outbreak: Multiple tornadoes struck the Omaha metro area, killing 3 and injuring hundreds.
• 2004 Hallam tornado (F4): At 2.5 miles wide, it was the widest tornado ever recorded in the U.S. at that time (before the 2013 El Reno EF5). 1 fatality.
• 2014 Pilger twin EF4 tornadoes: Two simultaneous EF4 tornadoes struck the small village of Pilger in Stanton County, killing 2 and destroying much of the town.

Regional NWS Offices for Nebraska

| Region | WFO | Website |

|——–|—–|———|

| Eastern Nebraska (Omaha/Lincoln) | NWS Omaha/Valley | weather.gov/oax |

| Central Nebraska (Hastings) | NWS Hastings | weather.gov/gid |

| Northwest Nebraska (North Platte) | NWS North Platte | weather.gov/lbf |

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