DOT crews cleared hail out of the southbound lanes on Interstate 680 close to West Center.

“People were sliding off due to the deep hail there,’’ said Hallie Bova, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Valley.

Some spots in southwest Omaha reported as much as 4 inches of hail. Bova said the weather service received reports of an inch of hail around 120th Street near West Center.

“I do believe there was golf ball-sized hail in Council Bluffs,’’ Bova said.

Hail also was reported in other parts of town, including the Benson, Dundee and Memorial Park neighborhoods. Crews at the Peony Park Hy-Vee at 79th and Cass Streets had to plow an estimated 7 to 8 inches of hail from the store’s entry off 83rd Street, a manager said.

Meteorologist Cathy Zapotocny, who also is based in Valley, said the hail took a southwest-to-northeast path, according to reports from the public.

Someone first reported 1¼-inch hail northeast of Gretna about 4:15 a.m. Pea-sized hail also was reported in the area.

At Dingman Collision Center near 144th and Grover Streets, body repair estimators were seeing mostly minor damage to vehicles.