Guide Rock, NE Hail Storm – April 2026

What Happened

A severe hail storm tracked through the Guide Rock, NE metro on April 25, 2026, producing 3.09-inch hail and a long sequence of radar-detected alerts. The storm generated 46 NWS alerts between 12:54 PM CDT and 9:41 PM CDT, with combinations of dual-polarization radar detections, NWS warning-only notices, and multiple radar-plus-spotter reports.

Radar monitoring showed the convective cell intensify in the late afternoon and re-organize into a cluster in the early evening. Alerts recorded progressive growth in estimated hail size, with several radar and spotter-verified reports above 2 inches in the 6:00–7:00 PM CDT window. Spotter reports tied to the event included a social-media-sourced 2-inch measurement at about 6:50 PM CDT and a measured 2-inch observation near Pratt Community College at 6:51 PM CDT. Observers near 13th and West reported hail ranging from quarters to golf-ball size around 7:30 PM CDT. Earlier in the sequence, a social media report noted ping-pong ball sized hail on the south side of La Crosse at 4:55 PM CDT.

Damage Assessment

Field reports and radar overlays indicate the most concentrated surface impacts clustered along the storm’s southwest-to-northeast transit through the metro. Multiple spotter-verified accounts placed significant hail near Pratt Community College, 13th and West, 119th and 21st, Rock and Harry, and the south side of La Crosse. Local storm reports included measured 2-inch stones and repeated witness accounts of golf-ball sized hail at several intersections.

Observed impacts included vehicle panel dents reported from the Pratt Community College area and scattered reports of broken tree limbs and yard debris where observers described golf-ball sized stones. Several mPING submissions and observer notes recorded widespread quarter-size hail in the early evening. Radar-derived hail swaths align with the spotter clusters, showing repeated core passage through the named neighborhoods during the 6:00–8:00 PM CDT timeframe. Documented damage reports are concentrated on the storm’s transit corridor rather than uniformly distributed across the wider warning area.

What Contractors Should Know

Prioritize a rapid visual canvass of vehicles and soft-surface assets in the Pratt Community College corridor, 13th & West, 119th & 21st, Rock & Harry, and the south side of La Crosse. Begin with exterior vehicle checks for circular dents and paint chips, then move to roof and siding reconnaissance for shingle bruising, granule loss, and dent patterns. Use a ruler or calibrated scale in photos to record dent diameters and capture GPS-referenced images for each claim.

For roofing, focus first on asphalt shingle hips and windward exposures along the storm track. Look for split or bald granules, cracked tabs, and localized contouring on metal panels near HVAC units. Inspect mechanical equipment and exterior A/C housings for impact dents and compromised fins. Document any broken windows or sunroom glazing in the named intersections with time-stamped photos and observer notes.

Guide Rock, NE Hail Storm – April 2026

NWS WARNING AREAS · 46

What Happened

Damage Assessment

What Contractors Should Know

Storm Details

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