Hail in Douglas County, Nebraska

This thunderstorm produced very large hail from around the Florence area toward Eppley Airfield then into the Council Bluffs, Iowa area. Hail up to nearly 3 inches in diameter caused considerable damage around Eppley Airfield with 20 commercial and private aircraft sustaining significant damage. Some of the aircraft had 5 inch diameter holes punched through control surfaces. In addition, 150 vehicles parked in outdoor parking facilities sustained substantial damage including windows knocked out. Total storm damage estimates were around $500,000 at Eppley Airfield alone. The storm also caused significant damage in that part of Council Bluffs directly south of the airport.

Hail up to golf ball-size fell for around 5 minutes in the Valley area including at the NWS office near town. The hail was driven by winds estimated at least at 50 mph and caused extensive vehicle and property damage at the NWS office and to homes around a golf course near town. The damage to the Vehicles alone at the NWS was over $100,000. Damage to property and vehicles near the golf course and to homes in Valley was probably well in excess of $100,000.

Numerous reports of hail were received as this supercell tracked across western and then northern parts of the Omaha metro. The largest hail, some measuring near golf ball size fell from Elkhorn east along Dodge Street to near 144th Street. Just to the north of this track, along Maple and Fort Streets copious amounts of smaller hail, some up to 1 inch in diameter fell. In some areas this accumulated to several inches deep and snowplows were used to clear the hail. Piles of hail were still present days after the event.