Storm reports for April 21, 1997

IndependentNot affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports. Data through November 6, 2026. Methodology

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Other storms on April 21 →

On April 21, 1997, 161 hail, 53 damaging-wind and 2 tornado reports were logged across 11 states. The largest hail reported was 4.50″ (softball size) in Wood County, TX.

Storm day runs 7 a.m. to 7 a.m. Eastern (12:00–12:00 UTC), the convention the Storm Prediction Center uses. Radar hail estimates start October 2019.

Storm reports by state

Cities with hail reported within 5 miles

Hail reports (161)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $2.6 million in property damage and $14,000 in crop damage from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (240 events in 11 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Denton County, TX (near Denton) · Thunderstorm wind · $2 million
  “Many vehicles at an RV dealership in northern Denton were damaged by winds estimated at 80 to 100 mph. Two 18-wheelers were overturned at a truck stop. The roof of an outlet mall was removed and several businesses in the mall sustained major water damage.”
• Rockwall County, TX (near Rockwall) · Thunderstorm wind 82 mph · $150,000
  “A marina received major damage from strong winds.”
• Bedford County, TN (near Fairfield) · Hail 1.25″ · $50,000
  “Half dollar size hail reported just west of Fairfield on Fairfield Pike. It lasted for about 20 minutes and caused substantial damage to vehicles and homes. One person received $3200 worth of damage to a new car.”
• Collin County, TX (near Plano) · Thunderstorm wind · $50,000
  “Trees were blown down by strong winds. A church steeple was removed.”
• Giles County, TN (near Minor Hill) · Hail 1.75″ · $25,000
  “The Citizen-Pulaski newspaper reported golf ball size hail struck the area and caused damage to cars and roofs. One home had a hole in the roof due to the hail storm. The hardest hit area was on Pleasant Ridge Road.”
• Wise County, TX (near Slidell) · Thunderstorm wind · $20,000
  “A roof was blown off a mobile home and a tree fell onto a car.”

Event narratives from NWS Storm Data, shortened. Up to six per day, chosen by deaths, injuries, damage and size.

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Storm Events Database, as entered by National Weather Service offices; data through July 31, 2026. Damage is in dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation.

Guides: What radar-estimated hail (MESH) is and isn't · Storm reports: preliminary vs final