Burwell, NE Hail Storm – June 2026

A severe hail storm tracked through Burwell, Nebraska, on June 13, 2026, producing a radar-detected 3.2-inch hail signature and multiple spotter-verified reports of 2.75-inch stones. The event was concentrated in the early morning hours and generated 33 NWS alerts during its lifespan.

What Happened

Storm initiation occurred before dawn and produced the first radar-detected hail signature at 4:08 AM CDT. Dual-polarization radar continued to detect hail intensity fluctuations through mid-morning, with a 3.2-inch radar-derived hail return recorded at 4:26 AM CDT. A series of subsequent radar-detected signatures showed marginally smaller cores between 4:33 AM and 6:59 AM CDT. Numerous NWS warning-only alerts followed later in the day, primarily reporting 1.0-inch hail through the afternoon and early evening.

At 4:57 AM CDT, local spotters posted three separate social media reports near Burwell describing 2.75-inch hail; these were logged as spotter-verified observations. Those ground reports align with the radar hail core that passed the Burwell area during the pre-dawn intensification. The storm sequence includes both radar-detected and NWS warning-only alerts, and at least one radar-plus-spotter verification near 4:57 AM CDT that corroborates the large-stone reports.

Damage Assessment

Field reports and radar returns indicate concentrated large-stone impacts on the immediate Burwell area during the pre-dawn core transit. Three spotter-verified social media reports at 4:57 AM CDT specifically noted 2.75-inch stones, and radar signatures at and before that time showed a strong hail core over the same footprint. Local damage reports to vehicles, roofing, or siding have not been supplied in official feeds; assessments should start where spotters observed the largest stones.

Later-day NWS warning-only alerts described widespread 1.0-inch hail across broader portions of the warning area but did not include additional ground-verification. Radar-detected 1.5–1.9-inch signatures appeared intermittently through the morning. These smaller cores are likely to produce scattered surface impacts outside the concentrated early-morning core, but the primary surface threat recorded for Burwell remains the early pre-dawn large-stone reports and the radar-detected 3.2-inch signature.

What Contractors Should Know

Prioritize inspections in the exact locations where spotters posted 2.75-inch hail at 4:57 AM CDT and along the path defined by the radar-detected 3.2-inch signature. Those points represent the highest measured surface energy from this event. On roofs, focus on asphalt shingle fracture patterns, membrane punctures, and aggregate loss consistent with large-stone strikes. Photograph all damage with a location reference and time-stamped images before beginning repairs.

Vehicle and equipment owners in Burwell should be canvassed for denting on body panels, windshield chips, and broken glass. Large stones reported by spotters can produce concentrated vehicle damage even when surrounding properties show only superficial impacts. Use metallurgical magnet tests or calibrated impact templates to estimate energy levels before estimating replacement vs. repair.