Hail in Douglas County, Nebraska

A 5 to 15 minute hail storm hit the Omaha, Council Bluffs and Bellevue area causing extensive auto and roof damage. The hail covered the ground to several inches in some locations with most stones in the 1/2 to 1 1/2 inch range, although some were larger. From central into downtown Omaha, as the hail fell the visibility was lowered to near zero and the hail drifted like snow and shovels were used to clear some sidewalks. An elderly Omaha woman was injured with some cuts and bruises from the hail when she was caught outside. According to State Farm Insurance agents, the storm was the costliest hailstorm in the Omaha area at least since the late 1980's and possibly ever. State Farm estimated that there would be 100,000 claims in the Omaha Metro area. Most of the larger hail spared the northwest sections of the Metro area.