An upper level trough was over the northern Rocky Mountains and Northern Plains and was bringing a cold front south through Nebraska during the afternoon and evening hours of Independence Day. Temperatures heated up in advance of the front with dewpoints mostly in the 60s. A very moist and unstable atmosphere was present. CAPE values were generally near 4,000 J/kg ahead of the front, and 0 to 6 km wind shear values were around 35 knots. Mid-level lapse rates were generally 7 to 8 degrees C/km.
Isolated showers and storms were moving across portions of south central Nebraska during the early to mid-afternoon hours. This activity did not produce any severe weather. The main storm activity developed late in the afternoon into the evening hours and was associated with the cold front moving through Nebraska. Storms began developing in central Nebraska in the late afternoon and early evening hours. Then storms developed in south central Nebraska and formed a line with the storms in the central part of the state. The storms in central Nebraska moved southeast during the evening hours while the storms in the south central part of the state remained fairly stationary. The storms produced large hail and wind gusts of 58 to 66 mph between 5:30 PM CDT and 9 PM CDT. The largest hail reported was up to 2.50 inches and was reported in Webster, Fillmore, and Thayer Counties.

Hail in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 18:30:00 to 04-JUL-23 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHICKLEY
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 18:44:00 to 04-JUL-23 18:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: CARLETON
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 18:41:00 to 04-JUL-23 18:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: DEWEESE
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Peak wind gusts in the area included 66 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located three miles west of Edgar, and 59 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located two miles north of Edgar. Some minor tree damage was reported in Edgar. Emergency management estimated wind gusts near 60 mPH in Deweese.

Thunderstorm Wind in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 18:56:00 to 04-JUL-23 18:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: AYR
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Minor tree damage was caused by wind gusts estimated around 60 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 19:30:00 to 04-JUL-23 19:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: BELVIDERE
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles northeast Belvidere.

Hail in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 19:15:00 to 04-JUL-23 19:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: SARONVILLE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail up to the size of nickels fell off-and-on for approximately 30 minutes.

Thunderstorm Wind in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 19:45:00 to 04-JUL-23 19:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALEXANDRIA
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust of 61 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located seven miles southeast of Ohiowa.

Hail in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 19:50:00 to 04-JUL-23 19:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLAY CENTER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 19:50:00 to 04-JUL-23 19:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLAY CENTER
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Emergency management estimated wind gusts near 60 MPH.

Hail in MERRICK, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 16:45:00 to 04-JUL-23 16:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: SILVER CREEK
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Hail in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 17:10:00 to 04-JUL-23 17:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRAFTON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in POLK, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 17:15:00 to 04-JUL-23 17:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHELBY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 17:27:00 to 04-JUL-23 17:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLADEN
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Hail in YORK, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 17:27:00 to 04-JUL-23 17:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRESHAM
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Hail in POLK, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 17:36:00 to 04-JUL-23 17:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHELBY
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in YORK, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 17:45:00 to 04-JUL-23 17:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: WACO
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 3.00M
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 17:55:00 to 04-JUL-23 17:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLADEN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH.

Hail in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 18:10:00 to 04-JUL-23 18:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHICKLEY
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 04-JUL-23 18:27:00 to 04-JUL-23 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: SUTTON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager