Merriman, NE Hail Storm – September 2026

A severe hail storm tracked through Merriman, Nebraska, on September 27, 2026, producing a radar-detected maximum of 3.07 inches and multiple dual-polarization radar hail signatures across the warning area. The event moved through the late afternoon into early evening and is now concluded.

What Happened

NWS products for the Merriman metro recorded six separate hail alerts between late afternoon and early evening on September 27. At 4:39 PM CDT the first radar-derived hail detection registered 1.01 inches. At 5:27 PM CDT a stronger radar return showed 2.89 inches. Additional radar hail detections followed at 6:15 PM CDT (1.71 inches), 6:56 PM CDT (1.29 inches), 7:32 PM CDT (1.00 inch), and 7:56 PM CDT (1.00 inch). All six messages were driven by dual-polarization radar hail detection inside the NWS warning area.

A field observer near central Merriman reported vehicle damage at 5:16 PM CDT and estimated quarter-sized hail, recorded as 1.00 inch and spotter-verified by local observers. The spotter observation coincided with the larger radar signature between 5:16 and 5:30 PM CDT. Radar returns later in the sequence documented larger hail signatures farther along the storm track.

Storm motion was generally northeast across the Merriman warning area. The sequence shows an early uptick in intensity around late afternoon, a brief peak in the early evening, and a tapering of hail echo intensity by 7:56 PM CDT. The event produced multiple discrete radar hail detections rather than a single continuous corridor of uniform size.

Damage Assessment

Surface impact reports are limited but specific. A spotter in Merriman reported vehicle damage at 5:16 PM CDT and verified quarter-sized hail at that time. That vehicle damage occurred inside town limits and was documented to local storm report channels.

Radar returns indicate larger stones were present along portions of the storm track northeast of Merriman later in the sequence. No additional spotter-verified roof or structural damage reports were filed to the NWS for Merriman on September 27. Claims and field inspections received by local authorities have so far concentrated on the vehicle damage reported inside the town.

Debris observations from county road crews and private callers were sparse. Where crews noted pavement scatter or small roadside debris, time stamps cluster around the 5:15–5:45 PM CDT window, matching the spotter observation time. There is no verified report of concentrated hail damage to residential roofing within Merriman documented in the available ground-truth reports.

What Contractors Should Know

Prioritize on-site inspections for the vehicle damage report logged at 5:16 PM CDT in central Merriman. Document vehicle panels, glass, and trim with date-stamped photography and include the spotter-verified 1.00-inch hail size in your initial claim notes. Coordinate with the vehicle owner to capture pre- and post-repair estimates and to record the spotter reference for adjuster review.