Although the bulk of a more widespread/significant severe weather event focused slightly east of the local area on this Friday afternoon and evening, the western fringes of a southward-moving complex of severe storms brushed into mainly far eastern South Central Nebraska counties along the Highway 81 corridor, resulting in several reports of large hail. Some of the largest verified stones of 2-inch diameter occurred in/near Geneva and Aurora, with golf ball size hail reported in/near communities such as Genoa, Osceola, Exeter and Gilead. Somewhat surprisingly, there were no confirmed reports of severe-criteria winds locally, despite several instances of wind damage slightly off to the east within eastern Nebraska.
Breaking down how things unfolded, a few thunderstorms first attempted to develop within primarily the western half of South Central Nebraska between 3-5 p.m. CDT, but they never became severe and soon dissipated. Then, between 6-8 p.m. CDT, a lone strong to severe hail storm initiated over the Grand Island area and tracked east through Hamilton and York counties. During this same time frame, the far western fringes of a west-east oriented severe storm complex entered the far northeast corner of South Central Nebraska, dropping hail in and near places such as Genoa, Silver Creek, Osceola and Shelby. Over the course of the following three hours, the western edge of the aforementioned larger storm complex drifted almost due-south through eastern portions of York, Fillmore and Thayer counties while occasionally exhibiting supercell characteristics, before finally departing the local area into Kansas shortly before 11 p.m. CDT.
In the mid-upper levels, broad west-northwest flow was present over the Central Plains, featuring only subtle, low-amplitude disturbances. However, the combination of instability and shear in the presence of a slowly-southward-moving surface front was quite supportive of severe storm development. As for instability, afternoon high temperatures in the 90s F combined with dewpoints well into the 60s to around 70 in eastern portions of South Central Nebraska yielded considerable mixed-layer CAPE of 2000-4000 J/kg. Effective deep layer wind shear was also rather healthy for mid-June, averaging around 50 knots. Given these stout mesoscale parameters, and in hindsight, it seems fortunate and somewhat surprising that severe storms didn't impact more of South Central Nebraska on this day. However, relatively warm mid-levels and resultant capping likely played a key role in this, with 700 millibar temperatures of 12-14C proving inhospitable to sustained updrafts in most local counties.

Hail in POLK, NEBRASKA
From 16-JUN-17 18:28:00 to 16-JUN-17 18:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: SWEDEHOME
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail in YORK, NEBRASKA
From 16-JUN-17 18:33:00 to 16-JUN-17 18:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: HENDERSON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 16-JUN-17 19:00:00 to 16-JUN-17 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: EXETER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Hail in YORK, NEBRASKA
From 16-JUN-17 19:33:00 to 16-JUN-17 19:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: WACO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 16-JUN-17 20:35:00 to 16-JUN-17 20:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: OHIOWA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 16-JUN-17 20:50:00 to 16-JUN-17 20:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRUNING
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in NANCE, NEBRASKA
From 16-JUN-17 17:50:00 to 16-JUN-17 17:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: GENOA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 175.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 16-JUN-17 18:11:00 to 16-JUN-17 18:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: AURORA
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 125.00K
Crop damage: 250.00K
Reported by: Public

Up to hen egg size hail was reported in and near Aurora.

Hail in POLK, NEBRASKA
From 16-JUN-17 18:44:00 to 16-JUN-17 18:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: OSCEOLA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail ranging from quarter to golf ball size fell along the Highway 81/92 corridor between Osceola and Shelby.

Hail in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 16-JUN-17 20:04:00 to 16-JUN-17 20:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: EXETER
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 16-JUN-17 20:12:00 to 16-JUN-17 20:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: GENEVA
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 16-JUN-17 21:25:00 to 16-JUN-17 21:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: GILEAD
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 250.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Hail in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 16-JUN-17 17:37:00 to 16-JUN-17 17:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRAND IS
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in NANCE, NEBRASKA
From 16-JUN-17 18:15:00 to 16-JUN-17 18:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: GENOA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public