Storm reports for April 30, 1997

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

← Apr 29, 1997 All 1997 storm days · April 1997 May 1, 1997 →

Other storms on April 30 →

On April 30, 1997, 26 hail, 91 damaging-wind and 30 tornado reports were logged across 14 states. The largest hail reported was 1.75″ (golf ball size) in Carlisle County, KY.

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 (26)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $3.6 million in property damage and 6 injuries from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (165 events in 14 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Tazewell County, IL (near Pekin) · Tornado F0 · $115,000 · 1 injury
  “A tornado briefly touched down 7 miles southwest of Pekin in the Country View Estates Subdivision severely damaging a home under construction causing around $90,000 in damage.”
• Perry County, IN (near Bristow) · Tornado F1 · $300,000
  “An F1 tornado cut a 15 mile path across north central Perry county. The hardest hit areas were Apalona and Branchville. 2 mobile homes were destroyed in Apalona, and numerous roofs were lifted off houses in Branchville.”
• Coles County, IL (near Lerna) · Thunderstorm wind · $126,000
  “A line of severe thunderstorms moved across Coles County causing a lot of damage. Three miles southeast of Lerna a machine shed, a small storage shed, and a grain bin were destroyed. Also, a motor home, several vehicles, and a house roof sustained minor damage.”
• McLean County, IL (near Downs) · Tornado F0 · $100,000
  “A tornado first touched down 1.5 miles east of Downs, blowing down a barn which trapped a 32-year old pony for 16 hours. Several other barns, machine sheds, cattle sheds, and grain bins were damaged or destroyed in the area.”
• Weakley County, TN (near Martin) · Thunderstorm wind · $25,000
  “A convenience store lost the padding from its building. Numerous large trees limbs were knocked down. Some phone lines were downed as well.”
• St. Francis County, AR (near Forrest City) · Thunderstorm wind · $11,000
  “A car wash and a liquor store suffered roof damage. Several trees and power lines were also knocked down.”

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