Severe thunderstorms with large hail hit central Nebraska, causing extensive damage

Severe thunderstorms swept through central Nebraska on June 29, 2024, producing strong winds, heavy rains, and large hail. The storm caused extensive damage to cars, homes and agricultural fields.

At 01:27 LT on June 29, a thunderstorm with a wind gust of 113 km/h (70 mph) and hail ranging from 4.4 cm (1.75 inches) to 6.4 cm (2.50 inches) swept through Gothenburg and Cozad in Dawson County.

Cozad was particularly hard-hit with multiple hail reports between 01:52 and 01:55, including hail sizes up to 10.2 cm (4 inches), resulting in significant damage to homes, vehicles, and a local hospital, and causing one injury.

Cozad Community Hospital temporarily diverted patients from the emergency room to other facilities including Gothenburg Health as they conducted damage assessment.

As of the morning of June 29, Administrator Robert Dyer said they were now accepting patients again and visitors are asked to use the east entrance. Dyer says the current patients there were not affected nor moved from their rooms.

“It blew out to windows sending rain, glass, and hail as far as fifteen feet into my home. Because it’s dark, it’s difficult to see but the entire window is gone,” she said.

Some residents reported golf ball-sized hails that caused extensive damage:

The National Weather Service asked for reports from portions of western Dawson County – especially from north of Gothenburg through southwest of Lexington and portions of Sherman, Buffalo, or Hall County – especially from near Litchfield through just west of Alda.

References:

¹ Strom report – NWS – June 29, 2024

² Severe storms pummel central Nebraska with large hail – KRVN – June 29, 2024

³ Extensive hail storm damage in Cozad Saturday morning – KNEB – June

Featured image credit: NSP Troop D