Hail history for Sterling, Nebraska
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Sterling since 2000, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Sterling
- Last hail
- Sep 13, 2026
- 1.00 in, quarter size · preliminary
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 3
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 3 reports
- Largest ever
- 2.00 in
- hen egg · May 3, 2015
27 reports on 21 days since 2000 · #180 of 469 Nebraska places
Hail map · Sterling
- Under 1 in
- 1–1.75 in
- 1.75–2.5 in
- 2.5–4 in
- 4 in +
- No size
For homeowners
Roof damage after hail? Get a free inspection
Hail bruises shingles and cracks seals in ways you can't see from the ground, and most insurers set a claim deadline after the storm. The latest hail report in Sterling is from September 13, 2026. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
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What the record says about Sterling
The latest hail report in and around Sterling is from September 13, 2026, 1.00 in (quarter size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 3 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 1.25 in on August 19, 2022.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Sterling logged 23 reports on 17 hail days, about 1.1 reports a year. That is about twice the median Nebraska town on this site (0.6 a year) and ranks #180 of 469 Nebraska cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Sterling accounts for 22% of the 124 reports filed in Johnson County.
7% of reports with a size were 2 inches (hen egg) or larger, against 9% for the median Nebraska town on this site. The largest hail on record here is 2.00 in (hen egg) on May 3, 2015 near 0.87 SW Sterling.
Reports were down 56% in 2016–2025 (7) compared with 2006–2015 (16). The busiest year was 2006, with 5 reports on 4 days. Hail here peaks in June (30% of reports); 63% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Sterling 1.1
- Johnson County 4.0
- Median Nebraska town on this site 0.6
Hail days 2006–2025
- Sterling 17
- Johnson County 45
- Median Nebraska town on this site 10
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Sterling 7%
- Johnson County 7%
- Median Nebraska town on this site 9%
Hail over time
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 2017 | 1 | 1 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2026 | 1 | 1.00 in | View |
| Mar 14, 2025 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Aug 19, 2022 | 1 | 1.25 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 3, 2015 | 2.00 inhen egg | 0.87 SW Sterling | Johnson | 20:05 local · NCEI |
| May 3, 2015 | 2.00 inhen egg | 0.87 SW Sterling | Johnson | 18:26 local · NCEI |
| May 3, 2015 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 1.72 ESE Sterling | Johnson | 18:33 local · NCEI |
| Jun 27, 2013 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 1.72 ESE Sterling | Johnson | 07:05 local · NCEI |
| Apr 21, 2005 | 1.50 inping pong ball | Sterling | Johnson | 14:57 local · NCEI |
Size of every report
- Under 1 in 8 30%
- 1–2 in 17 63%
- 2 in + 2 7%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2026 | 1.00 inquarter | 2 S Sterling | Johnson | 07:23 UTC · NWS prelim. |
| Mar 14, 2025 | 1.00 inquarter | 3 SE Sterling | Johnson | 14:36 local · NCEI |
| Aug 19, 2022 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 3.16 W St Mary | Johnson | 16:55 local · NCEI |
| Jun 11, 2021 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.69 S Sterling | Johnson | 10:00 local · NCEI |
| May 28, 2019 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.72 ESE Sterling | Johnson | 00:25 local · NCEI |
| Jun 11, 2018 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.87 SW Sterling | Johnson | 18:21 local · NCEI |
| Jun 11, 2018 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 2.72 ESE Sterling | Johnson | 18:16 local · NCEI |
| Apr 9, 2017 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.72 ESE Sterling | Johnson | 20:40 local · NCEI |
| May 3, 2015 | 2.00 inhen egg | 0.87 SW Sterling | Johnson | 20:05 local · NCEI |
| May 3, 2015 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 1.72 ESE Sterling | Johnson | 18:33 local · NCEI |
| May 3, 2015 | 2.00 inhen egg | 0.87 SW Sterling | Johnson | 18:26 local · NCEI |
| May 3, 2015 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.72 ESE Sterling | Johnson | 18:15 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Sterling
Questions about hail in Sterling
How often does it hail in Sterling, Nebraska?
27 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Sterling since 2000. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 1.1 reports a year. That ranks #180 of 469 Nebraska places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Sterling?
Most reports come in June, May, March. June alone accounts for 30% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Sterling?
2.00 in (hen egg size) on May 3, 2015 near 0.87 SW Sterling. 7% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Sterling?
The most recent report in this data is from September 13, 2026 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Sterling had in the last five years?
3 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 3 reports. The most recent was September 13, 2026.
Where does this hail data come from?
Hail reports come from the NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, which the National Weather Service compiles from spotter, public, law enforcement and media reports. Recent days use preliminary NWS Local Storm Reports via the Iowa Environmental Mesonet until NOAA publishes final data. Only reported hail is counted, so areas with fewer people tend to have fewer reports.