Sidney, NE Hail Storm – July 2026

Sidney, NE experienced radar-detected severe hail on July 28, 2026, peaking at 3.65 inches in the late afternoon. The storm produced a sequence of NWS alerts and moved across the metro over several hours.

What Happened

The event generated 15 NWS alerts across the Sidney metro on July 28. The first alert arrived at 3:27 PM CDT with a 1.59-inch radar-detected hail report. The largest radar-detected return occurred at 4:28 PM CDT, registering 3.65 inches. The final NWS alert associated with the storm was logged at 9:01 PM CDT with a 1.44-inch radar-detected hail value.

Eleven alerts in the sequence carried dual-polarization radar detections (NEXRAD hail detection). Four alerts were NWS warning only with no radar hail size returned. Notable radar-detected measurements include 2.46 inches at 4:58 PM CDT and 1.87 inches at 5:00 PM CDT. The radar hail detections show a multi-zone swath crossing the municipal area from mid-afternoon into early evening.

The storm is concluded. No active warnings remained associated with this event after 9:01 PM CDT on July 28.

Damage Assessment

Radar-detected hail reached 3.65 inches in the Sidney metro. Hail of this size is capable of producing severe localized damage to exposed property along the mapped hail track. Expected impacts along the radar track include denting of vehicle panels, punctures and loss of asphalt shingle surfacing on roofs, and breakage of single-pane glazing or skylights directly beneath the largest returns.

Smaller radar-detected sizes across the sequence ranged from about 0.46 inch to 2.46 inches. Those areas are more likely to show hail-erosion on shingles, scratched paint on vehicles, and denting to soft metals. Field verification is required to determine the exact footprint of damage along streets and parcels in Sidney.

What Contractors Should Know

Document conditions immediately with timestamped, geotagged photos and a concise written log. Prioritize inspections along the radar-detected hail swath and at addresses within NWS alert areas where radar returns exceeded 1.5 inches. For roofs, look for granule loss, split tabs, and punctures. For vehicles, record dents and shattered glass with wide and close-up photos. Note the local time and GPS coordinates for each photograph.

Temporary mitigation should focus on water intrusion prevention. Tarp compromised roof sections and cover broken skylights before overnight exposure. Replace or secure vulnerable equipment and outdoor inventory on a priority basis. Coordinate findings with property owners and their insurers; provide clear documentation of observed damage versus adjacent undamaged areas.

See the Strike Map for precise hail track data.