Storm reports for May 5, 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 5 →

On May 5, 1997, 37 hail, 4 damaging-wind and 0 tornado reports were logged across 7 states. The largest hail reported was 2.00″ (hen egg size) in Lake County, IN.

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 (37)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $25,000 in property damage and 1 injury from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (47 events in 8 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Kent County, MI (near Grand Rapids) · Hail 1.50″
  “Golfball sized hail reported by NWS spotter at the John Ball Park Public Zoo.”
• Ottawa County, MI (near Grand Haven) · Hail 0.88″
  “Nickel sized hail reported covering the ground.”

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