Hail — Platte, Nebraska

2025-09-16 · near Columbus, Platte, Nebraska

Event narrative

Public report of hail estimated 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 → (41.4200, -97.3700)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1294731. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.