Lincoln area, July 3, 2026: spotters filed 2 hail reports in Otoe and Lancaster counties, between 00:26 and 00:56 UTC. The largest stone measured 1.75 in. at Palmyra, Otoe County. The closest report fell 7.8 miles from the Lincoln city center (4 NW Roca).
Where the hail fell
- under 0.75 in
- 0.75 to 0.99
- 1.00 to 1.74
- 1.75 to 2.49
- 2.50 and up
How many reports fell close to the city
| Distance from city center | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|
| Within 5 miles | 0 | — |
| Within 10 miles | 1 | 1.75″ |
| Within 25 miles | 2 | 1.75″ |
Reported hail, report by report
| Time (UTC) | Hail size | Location | Distance from city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:26 | 1.75″ | Palmyra, Otoe County | 18.1 mi |
| 00:56 | 1.75″ | 4 NW Roca, Lancaster County | 7.8 mi |
The rows above come from preliminary Local Storm Reports of the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Sizes are reported hailstone diameters; times are UTC. Reports can be added or corrected for about a day after the event. Where a report carries no distance, it is measured in a straight line from its coordinates to the city center.
What 1.75 in. hail on July 3, 2026 means for a Lincoln roof
2 of the 2 sized Lincoln reports reached 1 in. The 1.75 in. stone at Palmyra, Otoe County falls in the 1.75 to 2.49 in class; on July 3, 2026 that is golf ball to hen egg territory for Lincoln.
How the storm moved through the area
| County | Reports | Largest hail | Closest to city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otoe | 1 | 1.75″ | 18.1 mi |
| Lancaster | 1 | 1.75″ | 7.8 mi |
How this day compares with other hail days
Lincoln has 2 hail days in our NOAA log; by largest hailstone, July 3, 2026 ranks #1 of them. Logged days closest in time to July 3, 2026:
- August 17: 1 report, largest 1.00″
The same storm in nearby cities
July 3: 7 cities in 5 states drew SPC hail reports. Omaha, NE lies closest to Lincoln, 48 miles northeast, with 3 reports, largest 1.00 in.
| City | Distance | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | 48 mi northeast | 3 | 1.00″ |
1 nearest to Lincoln, within 220 miles; each link opens that city’s list for July 3, 2026.
Where the claim clocks stand for the Lincoln storm
Lincoln: that storm was 114 days ago. Rows marked passed are not cut-off dates on their own; the only legal limits are the ones tagged statute. For Lincoln the photo window, the inspection and the target filing date (Fri, Jul 10) are already behind us.
- After you file proof of loss for the Jul 3 storm, the insurer has 15 days. Statute text
- Lincoln: no date, because the 5 years start at another point. Statute text
Lincoln: insurer clocks counted from a claim filed Fri, Jul 10; working-day clocks skip weekends. Claim deadlines for Lincoln, NE. Not legal advice; your own reporting deadline comes from your policy.
July 3 against the Lancaster County July record
Lincoln's July 3 log shows 1.75 in. hail. The record July in Lancaster County since 2014 is 2023, with 8 reports and a largest stone of 1.75 in.
Hail history near Lincoln: not the first
Lincoln’s county has logged 134 hail events since 2017; if this one leads to a replacement, ask about Class 4 impact-resistant shingles, which some insurers discount. Check your own address on the hail risk lookup.
Verified roofers in Lincoln
- 21st Century Contracting, IncVerified
- ANK Unlimited ConstructionVerified
- Apple RoofingVerified
- BB RoofingVerified
- Cortez RoofingVerified
- Galpha General Construction LlcVerified
See all roofing contractors in Lincoln, NE
What the sizes reported on July 3, 2026 can do to a roof
| Size class in Lincoln's reports | Looks like | Reports | What that size can do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.75 to 2.49 in | golf ball to hen egg | 2 | Can fracture older shingles and dent vents, flashing and gutters. |
Size classes follow the SPC report diameters; the damage wording is general, not a finding about any one roof.
2026 in the Lancaster County hail record
NOAA's county table already holds 29 hail reports for Lancaster County in 2026 through June 2026, with a largest stone of 2.50 in. That is more than 8 of the 8 full years before it. The busiest full year in the table is 2022 with 27 reports.
| Year | NOAA hail reports, Lancaster County | Largest stone |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 21 | 2.50″ |
| 2018 | 1 | 1.75″ |
| 2019 | 18 | 1.75″ |
| 2020 | 6 | 2.00″ |
| 2022 | 27 | 3.50″ |
| 2023 | 14 | 2.50″ |
| 2024 | 8 | 2.50″ |
| 2025 | 10 | 2.00″ |
| 2026 (through June 2026) | 29 | 2.50″ |
This date among 2026's matched hail days
In 2026 the feed holds 2 matched hail days for Lincoln. Ranked by largest stone, then report count, July 3, 2026 is #1 of them.
| Date | City | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 3 | Lincoln | 2 | 1.75″ |
| Aug 17 | Lincoln | 1 | 1.00″ |
Ranked by largest stone, then by report count. Only dates the SPC feed matched to a covered city are counted.
The week after July 3, 2026
After Fri, Jul 3, the feed logged 1 hail report on 1 of the next 7 days in Lincoln and the cities within 100 miles. The first came on Wed, Jul 8.
| Day | Reports in Lincoln | Other cities within 100 miles | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Jul 8 | 0 | 1 city, 1 report | 1.00″ |
Verified roofers near Lincoln
15 verified roofers listed for Lincoln; 15 mores in 2 nearby cities within 60 miles, led by Bellevue (48 miles east-northeast). Verified means the license was matched to a state registry.
| City | Distance | Verified roofers |
|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, NE | 48 mi east-northeast | 2 |
| Omaha, NE | 48 mi northeast | 13 |
Questions about this storm
Lincoln, July 3, 2026: how big was the hail?
At Palmyra, Otoe County, the largest SPC report was 1.75 in.
Lincoln, July 3, 2026: how close did the hail fall?
The nearest report sat 7.8 miles from the city center and the farthest 18.1 miles. Within 10 miles: 1 of 2 reports.
Lincoln, July 3, 2026: how long did the hail last?
Reports are stamped from 00:26 to 00:56 UTC, a window of 30 minutes. Late reports can still be added for about a day.
Lincoln, July 3, 2026: was this the worst hail day on record?
Lincoln has 2 logged hail days; July 3, 2026 ranks #1 for Lincoln, at 1.75 in. The best other day reached 1.00 in.
Lincoln, July 3, 2026: what dates apply to a Nebraska insurer?
A claim filed on Fri, Jul 10 puts Lincoln's insurer on the clock: acknowledgment by Sat, Jul 25; decision 15 days after proof of loss. That is Nebraska law, applied to Lincoln. Information, not legal advice; Lincoln homeowners find their own reporting deadline in the policy.
Do I need an inspection if my roof looks fine?
Often, yes. Hail bruises and granule loss are hard to see from the ground. A dated inspection scope is what ties damage to this storm rather than to ordinary wear.
Did the same storm hit towns near Lincoln on July 3, 2026?
The feed shows hail reports that day in Omaha, NE (48 miles northeast, 3 reports, up to 1.00 in.).
What did the feed log near Lincoln in the week after July 3, 2026?
After Fri, Jul 3, the feed logged 1 hail report on 1 of the next 7 days in Lincoln and the cities within 100 miles. The first came on Wed, Jul 8.
Was 2026 a busy hail year in Lancaster County?
NOAA's county table already holds 29 hail reports for Lancaster County in 2026 through June 2026, with a largest stone of 2.50 in. That is more than 8 of the 8 full years before it. The busiest full year in the table is 2022 with 27 reports.
How many verified roofers can inspect after the Fri, Jul 3 storm in Lincoln?
15 verified roofers listed for Lincoln; 15 mores in 2 nearby cities within 60 miles, led by Bellevue (48 miles east-northeast). Verified means the license was matched to a state registry.
About these numbers
Every figure on this page comes from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center Local Storm Reports file, matched to reports within 25 miles of the city center. Reports are preliminary: they come from trained spotters, emergency managers, the public and mPING app submissions, and sizes are often estimated against a coin or ball. We do not adjust them. A roofer tagged Verified holds a license or registration we confirmed in a public registry. That tag says nothing about coverage, so ask whoever you pick for a current certificate of insurance before signing.
More Resources
All recent local hail · Roofing contractors · Insurance claim guide · Roof replacement costs here · Emergency roof repair