Cody, NE Hail Storm – August 2026

A severe hail storm tracked through Cody, NE on August 27, 2026, producing 3.96-inch stones in the late afternoon and delivering repeated radar-detected hail cores across the metro.

What Happened

NWS products issued 43 alerts for the Cody metro between 2:57 PM and 11:56 PM CDT on August 27. Dual-polarization NEXRAD hail detections first appeared in the early afternoon and intensified in the late afternoon and early evening, with multiple strong hail cores moving through the city. Radar detections showed a sequence of growing hail estimates through the 4 PM hour and continuing intermittent cores well into the night.

Three spotters in central Cody reported golf ball-sized hail and strong straight-line winds at 4:59 PM CDT. Each spotter estimated winds near 50–55 mph when they reported 1.75-inch (golf ball-sized) stones. A subset of NWS alerts during the event were flagged as spotter-verified or radar plus spotter-verified, and several later alerts were issued on NWS warning authority alone as the line weakened.

Radar coverage captured repeated updraft cores crossing similar tracks across the metro. Alerts ranged from small hail detections in the early evening to multiple pulses of larger hail during the late afternoon. The sequence produced a concentrated band of the most intense returns across central Cody before weakening after sunset.

Damage Assessment

Field reports place the most significant surface impacts in central Cody around late afternoon. Three spotters logged 1.75-inch (golf ball-sized) hail at 4:59 PM CDT and estimated 50–55 mph winds at the same time. Those reports indicate simultaneous wind and hail stress on exposed structures and vehicles in the areas where the observers were located.

Radar-detected hail cores passed directly over the metro during the late-afternoon pulse. Local reports and radar timing align on the late-afternoon period as the interval of greatest surface risk. Where spotters were located, expect concentrated impact signatures on roofing, vehicle panels, and exterior finishes that warrant on-site inspection.

No generalized, citywide damage assessment is available in public reports. Damage observed in the field should be recorded with time stamps, photographic scale, and location notes before any mitigation work begins. Use the spotter times and the late-afternoon window to prioritize initial inspections.

What Contractors Should Know

Prioritize inspections in central Cody and along the radar-indicated track of late-afternoon cores. Begin with roof systems and vehicle staging areas reported near the 4:59 PM CDT spotter locations. For asphalt-shingle roofs, check for fractured tabs, bruising that releases granules, and localized shingle loss. For metal panels, inspect for rounded dents and paint cracking. Photograph every finding with a dated, geotagged image and include a reference object for scale.

Cody, NE Hail Storm – August 2026

NWS WARNING AREAS · 43

What Happened

Damage Assessment

What Contractors Should Know

Storm Details

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