Storm reports for April 23, 1997

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

← Apr 22, 1997 All 1997 storm days · April 1997 Apr 24, 1997 →

Other storms on April 23 →

On April 23, 1997, 21 hail, 80 damaging-wind and 24 tornado reports were logged across 6 states. The largest hail reported was 1.75″ (golf ball size) in Pinellas County, FL.

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 (21)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $3.8 million in property damage and 1 injury from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (152 events in 6 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Hernando County, FL (near Spring Hill) · Tornado F0 · $150,000 · 1 injury
  “A tornado touched down and damaged at least twelve mobile homes and a church in Spring Hill. The most significant damage occurred on Blackhawk Drive where several mobile homes were damaged and a car was smashed by a fallen tree.”
• Hernando County, FL (near Brooksville) · Tornado F0 · $500,000
  “A tornado sporatically touched down along a 16 mile path and damaged up to 50 homes from near U.S. HIghway 41, four miles southwest of Brooksville, east to the Ridge Manor area. Several trees and power lines were also downed from the tornado before it lifted and dissipated.”
• Volusia County, FL (near New Smyrna Beach) · Tornado F0 · $250,000
  “A small tornado moving rapidly to the east touched down briefly in the northern part of New Smyrna Beach just west of US Highway 1, blowing down dozens of trees and damaging 20 homes.”
• Citrus County, FL (near Homosassa) · Thunderstorm wind · $250,000
  “Thunderstorm winds caused minor to major roof damage to several mobile homes, downed numerous trees and power lines in Homosassa. A total of 33 buildings were damaged by thunderstorm winds in Homosassa with the most extensive damage near Cardinal Street in the southern portion of the city.Ten to…”
• Volusia County, FL (near New Smyrna Beach) · Tornado F0 · $250,000
  “A small tornado moving rapidly to the east touched down briefly in the northern part of New Smyrna Beach just west of US Highway 1, blowing down dozens of trees and damaging 20 homes.”
• Sumter County, FL (near Wildwood) · Tornado F0 · $200,000
  “A tornado touched down along State Road 44 west of U.S. Highway 301 and damaged up to 24 buildings in the city of Wildwood. The tornado touched down on the Wildwood High School and caused roof and window damage.”

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