Ellsworth, NE Hail Storm – June 2025

Ellsworth, NE saw a concluded hail storm on June 27, 2025, with a maximum confirmed hail size of 1.75 inches. The event produced multiple hail alerts through the afternoon and evening.

What Happened

The first alert came at 4:23 PM CDT, with 1.75-inch hail tied to NWS warning-only confidence. A second alert followed at 5:12 PM CDT with 1.5-inch hail, also carried at warning-only confidence.

A third alert came later in the evening at 8:59 PM CDT, when dual-polarization radar detected 1-inch hail. That last detection used radar confidence tied to NEXRAD hail detection.

The storm was concluded by the time this report was compiled. The sequence shows a multi-zone hail event across the Ellsworth area, with the largest hail signal arriving in the late afternoon and additional hail detection continuing into early evening.

Damage Assessment

Hail at 1.75 inches is large enough to break or fracture standard asphalt shingles, dent roof vents, and damage soft metals such as gutters, downspouts, and flashing. Vehicles parked in the open are also exposed to panel dents and broken trim.

The 1.5-inch alert keeps the event in a range where roof cover loss becomes more likely on older or already weathered roofing. Crews should expect bruised shingles, collateral granule loss, and impact marks on siding, skylights, and window screens in the hail path.

The 1-inch radar-detected hail later in the evening still supports inspection work for exterior impacts. Smaller hail can leave scattered roof marks, dented metal accents, and limited cosmetic damage that may not be visible from the ground.

For adjusters and contractors, the range from 1 inch to 1.75 inches calls for a roof-first assessment with close attention to slope, age, and exposed accessories. Metal roofs, ridge vents, box vents, condensers, and pergola covers should be checked alongside shingles. Document impact patterns with photos from multiple angles. Surface marks can appear uneven across the same block, especially where hail size changed between alerts.

What Contractors Should Know

Start with the roof planes most exposed to the storm path. Check for bruising, missing granules, fractured tabs, soft-metal dents, and impact marks on ridge caps and penetrations. Pay close attention to gutters, downspouts, chimney caps, fence posts, and vehicle exposures. The hail range here supports both functional roof damage and cosmetic claims in the same event.

Use the timing sequence when scheduling canvass work. The strongest hail signal came first in the late afternoon, then repeated at 5:12 PM CDT, with another radar-detected hail signal at 8:59 PM CDT. That gives crews a clear window for field notes, photo collection, and customer contact by time and area. Keep records tied to each structure, since hail severity can shift across short distances in a multi-zone event.