Clearwater, NE Hail Storm – May 2026

A late-evening hail storm tracked through Clearwater, NE on May 25, 2026, producing 1.09-inch stones and localized accumulations across the metro area. The event triggered two NWS severe thunderstorm warnings and produced a spotter-verified public report at 10:15 PM CDT.

What Happened

The first NWS severe thunderstorm warning was issued at 9:12 PM CDT for 1-inch hail. A second warning followed at 10:09 PM CDT for the same threat. Dual-polarization radar detected a concentrated hail swath moving through the Clearwater metro between those warnings. A public spotter filed a report at 10:15 PM CDT noting "lots of hail" with the largest stones slightly over one inch. Radar-derived hail detections aligned with the timing of that spotter submission.

Storm motion was primarily on an evening track through the Clearwater metro. The warnings were categorized as NWS warning only in the advisory text. Ground-truth observation from the public spotter provided photographic and eyewitness context to the radar returns. The spotter account concentrated hail accumulation in residential pockets rather than a broad, continuous damage path.

Damage Assessment

Surface reports and radar-derived hail detections indicate localized ground accumulation and short-duration intense downpours, rather than widespread structural failures. The public spotter at 10:15 PM CDT described numerous stones across yards and paved surfaces. No additional NWS Local Storm Reports or SPC observer submissions from this event documented structural collapse, roof failures, or injuries.

Where impacts were noted, they were limited to exposed surfaces. Lawns and driveways in reported areas showed visible pebble- to marble-size deposits immediately after the storm. Vehicle exposure overnight in the affected neighborhoods increases the likelihood of minor panel dents or glass chips where owners left cars outdoors. Residential roofing materials in Clearwater will show varied response depending on age and material condition. Older, weathered asphalt shingles are more likely to show granule loss or bruising than recently installed systems.

No verified reports of commercial or agricultural losses were submitted in the available field reports for this storm. Claims teams should expect a concentration of low-to-moderate inspection needs localized to the flagged residential pockets rather than a citywide surge.

What Contractors Should Know

Timing and location. The storm moved through Clearwater in the late evening. Expect wet, dark conditions at the time of impact. That timing increases the chance that vehicles were parked at homes and that roof inspections will find hail trapped in gutters and eaves. Prioritize properties with visible outdoor exposure overnight.

Inspection priorities. Start with photographic documentation from the driveway and roofline before walking roofs. Capture timestamped wide-angle shots of the property, close-ups of any dents or granule loss, and scale references for hail and damage. For roofs, focus on granule accumulation in gutters, shingle matting or bruising along the windward edges, and concentrated loss around hips and ridges. For vehicles, check hood, roof, trunk, and windshield edges for chipped glass and circular dents.