Hail — Saunders, Nebraska

2025-09-16 · near Wahoo, Saunders, Nebraska

Event narrative

Trained spotter report of hail measured up to penny sized.

Wider weather episode

On the evening of September 16, 2025, scattered thunderstorms initiated across east-central Nebraska, forced by mid-to-upper-level low-pressure system pivoting into the region. Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) values were plentiful, estimated between 2500 and 3500 J/kg. However, weak effective shear, estimated near 10 knots, limited storm organization, resulting in a pulse-like convective mode throughout the evening.

Initial storm activity produced minor hail reports: penny-sized hail was reported south of Wahoo, Nebraska, at 6:58 PM CST and southwest of Columbus, Nebraska, at 9:13 PM CST.

Into the early overnight hours of September 17, 2025, a separate thunderstorm tracked over Tecumseh, Nebraska, resulting in a narrow swath of wind damage. Emergency management reported several incidents within an approximately one-block radius of the Tecumseh post office, including a two-foot diameter downed tree, a blown-over stop sign, an outdoor awning thrown over a fence, and various smaller downed branches. Radar data estimated the timing of this damage around 3:30 AM CST with wind speeds estimated up to 70 mph.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (41.1900, -96.6200)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1294730. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.