Polk County Storm Activity
Wind, hail, and tornado activity from official NOAA sources (NWS & SPC) · Last 12 months · Updated Sep 11, 2026
Has it hailed in Polk County, Nebraska recently? Official National Weather Service (NWS) and Storm Prediction Center (SPC) records say yes: 20 hail reports with hail up to 2", among 37 severe weather events logged here in the last 12 months, together with 17 high-wind reports with gusts up to 65 mph. The most recent recorded storm activity was in August 2026. This page updates daily: every event comes straight from official NOAA data — no estimates, no modeling, just the record.
What the radar showed
Last 30 days in Polk County
Recent storms — full detail available in the app
Storm activity from the last 30 days is summarized at the county level on this page. Exact locations, radar snapshots, and official warning boundaries for recent events are available with a free account.
See the specifics — free →Storm log — the official record, day by day
Events older than 30 days, as recorded by the National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center. Excerpts are quoted directly from official warnings and verified reports.
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 55 mph
“At 412 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Lindsay to near Genoa to near Clarks. Movement was east at 35 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Strong thunderstorms will be near... Genoa and Clarks around 420 AM CDT. Silver Creek around 425 AM CDT.”
- Wind 55 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Thursday, July 30, 2026
2 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.5"
“At 845 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from Cedar Rapids to 7 miles southwest of Belgrade to Ashton to Litchfield. Movement was southeast at 35 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.”
“At 925 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from Silver Creek to near Archer to near Cairo to near Poole. Movement was southeast at 45 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Strong thunderstorms will be near...”
- Hail 0.5" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
2 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.75"
“At 717 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Clarks, or 21 miles north of York, moving east at 30 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... Stromsburg, Osceola, Shelby, Polk, and Benedict.”
“At 700 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from Genoa to 6 miles northeast of Archer to near Central City. Movement was east at 15 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
- Hail 0.75" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.5" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, July 4, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 856 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near St. Libory to near Kearney. Movement was southeast at 55 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Strong thunderstorms will be near... Grand Island, Gibbon, Wood River, Shelton, and Alda around 900 PM CDT.”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, June 13, 2026
2 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.88"
“At 646 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Archer, or 25 miles northeast of Grand Island, moving east at 55 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. This strong thunderstorm will be near... Clarks around 655 AM CDT.”
“At 711 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near St. Edward to Silver Creek to near Marquette. Movement was east at 40 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.”
- Hail 0.88" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.75" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
2 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.25", wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 821 PM CDT, an automated weather station reported strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 6 miles northeast of Palmer to near Central City to near Henderson to near Saronville to near Fairfield. Movement was east at 70 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Strong thunderstorms will be near...”
“At 943 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Waco, or 7 miles east of York, moving northeast at 35 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... York, Waco, Gresham, and Thayer.”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Monday, June 8, 2026
1 SPC verified storm report — wind gusts up to 60 mph
“observer estimated wind gust up to 60 MPH. (GID)”
- Wind 60 mph Osceola SPC verified report
Friday, June 5, 2026
2 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.88"
“At 713 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Polk, or 19 miles northwest of York, moving east at 15 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. This strong thunderstorm will be near... Stromsburg around 730 PM CDT.”
“At 659 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong thunderstorms from near St. Libory, or 11 miles north of Grand Island to Polk, moving east at 20 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. This strong thunderstorm will be near... St.”
- Hail 0.88" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.88" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, May 30, 2026
1 NWS warning — hail up to 0.75"
“At 1027 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Gresham, or 12 miles northeast of York, moving north at 25 mph. Hazard: Penny size hail. Impact: Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. This strong thunderstorm will be near... Gresham around 1030 PM CDT.”
- Hail 0.75" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, May 23, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 852 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 9 miles north of Palmer to near Chapman to near Doniphan. Movement was east at 45 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Strong thunderstorms will be near... Giltner, Chapman, Phillips, and Archer around 855 PM CDT.”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Monday, May 18, 2026
1 NWS warning — hail up to 0.75"
“At 413 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm just west of Utica, or 13 miles northeast of York, moving north at 45 mph. Hazard: Penny size hail. Impact: Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... Gresham.”
- Hail 0.75" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, May 16, 2026
2 SPC verified storm reports — hail up to 2"
- Hail 2" 6 W Osceola SPC verified report
- Hail 1" 7 WNW Stromsburg SPC verified report
Saturday, April 25, 2026
1 NWS warning — hail up to 0.88"
“At 425 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near York, moving northeast at 35 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. This strong thunderstorm will be near... York around 430 PM CDT.”
- Hail 0.88" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
2 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.75"
“At 639 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Osceola, or 20 miles north of York, moving east at 35 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. This strong thunderstorm will be near... Osceola and Shelby around 645 PM CDT.”
“At 604 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Marquette, or 22 miles northeast of Grand Island, moving east at 25 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. This strong thunderstorm will be near... Hordville around 610 PM CDT.”
- Hail 0.75" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.75" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, March 21, 2026
2 NWS warnings — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY INTO TONIGHT... WINDS...This afternoon into this evening, out of the south to southwest, sustained 10 to 20 MPH and gusting up to around 25 to 30 MPH. Then after midnight tonight into early Sunday morning, abruptly turning northerly behind a strong cold front and gusting at least 40 to 50 MPH.”
“WINDS...Today into this evening, out of the south to southwest...sustained 10 to 20 MPH and gusting 20 to 30 MPH. After midnight tonight night into early Sunday morning, abruptly turning northerly behind a strong cold front and gusting at least 40 to 50 MPH.”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Friday, March 20, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“...Critical Fire Weather Conditions Saturday into Early Sunday Morning... WINDS...On Saturday into Saturday evening, out of the south to southwest...sustained 10 to 20 MPH and gusting 20 to 30 MPH. After midnight Saturday night into early Sunday morning, abruptly turning northerly behind a strong cold front and gusting at least 40 to 50 MPH.”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Sunday, March 15, 2026
2 NWS warnings — wind gusts up to 65 mph
“WHAT...North to northwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph. WHERE...Portions of north central Kansas and central, east central, and south central Nebraska. WHEN...Until 9 PM CDT this evening. IMPACTS...Damaging winds may damage trees. Localized power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”
“WHAT...North-northwest winds sustained 30 to 40 MPH, and gusting 50 to 60 MPH. WHERE...Portions of north central Kansas and central, east central, and south central Nebraska. WHEN...Until 9 PM CDT this evening. IMPACTS...Damaging winds may damage trees. Localized power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”
- Wind 65 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 60 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, March 14, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 60 mph
“WHAT...Sustained north-northwest winds at least 30 to 40 MPH, with frequent gusts at least 50 to 60 MPH. WHERE...Portions of north central Kansas and central, east central, and south central Nebraska. WHEN...From Sunday morning through Sunday evening. IMPACTS...Damaging winds could damage trees and power lines. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”
- Wind 60 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Friday, March 13, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 60 mph
“WHAT...North winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. WHERE...Portions of north central Kansas and central, east central, and south central Nebraska. WHEN...From Sunday morning through Sunday evening. IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”
- Wind 60 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 60 mph
“WHAT...Northwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. WHERE...Greeley, Howard, Merrick, Nance, Sherman, Valley, Polk, York, Hall, and Hamilton Counties. WHEN...From 9PM CDT Thursday evening through 3AM CDT Thursday night. IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”
- Wind 60 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON... WINDS...Southwest turning more west through the afternoon. Sustained speeds of 20 to 30 MPH with gusts up to 50 mph. RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 to 25 percent. The lowest values between 10 and 15 percent are expected to occur across areas mainly west of Highway 281. IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will spread quickly.”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Thursday, December 18, 2025
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 65 mph
“WHAT...Northwest winds sustained as high as 35 to 45 mph, with gusts 55 to 65 MPH. WHERE...Portions of north central Kansas and central, east central, and south central Nebraska. WHEN...Until 6 PM CST this evening. IMPACTS...Very strong winds could cause damage to trees. Localized power outages are possible.”
- Wind 65 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Monday, November 17, 2025
1 NWS warning — hail up to 0.75"
“At 730 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Hampton, or 11 miles west of York, moving northeast at 35 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. This strong thunderstorm will be near... Bradshaw around 735 PM CST.”
- Hail 0.75" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Monday, September 22, 2025
2 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.88"
“At 949 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Bellwood, or 8 miles south of Columbus, moving east at 10 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northeastern Polk County.”
“At 908 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Duncan, or 7 miles southwest of Columbus, moving northeast at 15 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northeastern Polk County.”
- Hail 0.88" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.88" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Today's severe weather outlook
Common questions
When was the last severe storm in Polk County, NE?
The most recent recorded event was in August 2026. Official NWS and SPC records show 37 severe weather events in Polk County over the last 12 months. Exact dates and locations for recent storms are available in the app with a free account.
Has there been hail in Polk County recently?
Yes — 20 hail reports in the last 12 months, with hail up to 2" recorded.
How do I check whether a specific address was affected?
Create a free IDOLCheck account and run an address check. It shows verified storm reports and official NWS warning boundaries around any specific property — county-level pages like this one only tell part of the story.