Storm reports for May 2, 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 May 2 →

On May 2, 1997, 123 hail, 94 damaging-wind and 8 tornado reports were logged across 13 states. The largest hail reported was 3.00″ (teacup size) in Wayne County, IA. Tornadoes killed 1.

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 (123)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $4.6 million in property damage, $175,000 in crop damage, 16 injuries and 1 death from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (253 events in 13 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Walker County, GA (near Chickamauga) · Tornado F1 · $100,000 · 1 death · 3 injuries
  “The tornado touched down just southwest of Chickamauga in the Ridgecrest Acre mobile home park. Touchdown was noted to be at the intersection of Georgia Highway 136 and 193.”
• Limestone County, AL (near Athens) · Tornado F2 · $2.3 million · 12 injuries
  “A tornado, rated at F2 on the Fujita scale, struck the southern and eastern sections of Athens in Limestone County. The tornado path began about 2 miles south-southwest of Athens near the intersection of Sanderfer Road and County Road 45.”
• Madison County, AL (near Meridianville) · Tornado F2 · $600,000 · 1 injury
  “A short but powerful tornado struck the area northwest of Meridianville destroying four homes along with major damage to two otehrs and minor damage to twelve more. The tornado path began in an hope area just southwest of the Colonial Golf Course.”
• Holmes County, MS (near Tchula) · Tornado F3 · $200,000
  “This tornado initially touched down 1 mile south of Tchula and moved northeast to 2 miles east southeast of Emory. The path width and strength varied along the path, but at its widest point was 200 yards. The worst damage occurred at a school 2 miles east of Tchula where major damage was done.”
• Humphreys County, MS (near Belzoni) · Thunderstorm wind 90 mph · $100,000
  “After baseball size hail broke out the windows of a car dealership strong wind entered the building and peeled the roof off. The roofs of two adjacent buildings were partially peeled off. Numerous light poles were blown down. Minor damage was done to some apartment buildings.”
• East Carroll Parish, LA (near Lake Providence) · Tornado F1 · $100,000
  “The tornado touched down 5 miles west-southwest of Lake Providence where it destroyed a shed. It moved to the northeast and moved over a lake at Lake Providence. To the northeast of the lake it destroyed several sheds and destroyed two grain bins. At this point it reached its maximum width.”

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