Storm reports for May 17, 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 17 →

On May 17, 1997, 60 hail, 8 damaging-wind and 1 tornado reports were logged across 7 states. The largest hail reported was 4.50″ (softball size) in Miami County, KS.

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 (60)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $15,000 in property damage from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (83 events in 7 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• York County, NE (near Henderson) · Thunderstorm wind · $10,000
  “An isolated thunderstorm produced a dry microburst south of Henderson. The resulting wind partially damaged an irrigation pivot which was running at the time.”
• Bates County, MO (near Butler) · Thunderstorm wind 86 mph
  “Severe thunderstorm winds were observed at 75 MPH in Butler. Several large trees were knocked down with the strong winds. In Rich Hill the thunderstorm winds knocked down power lines. The same severe thunderstorm produced dime-size hail as reported by the Rich Hill Police Department.”
• Linn County, KS (near Parker) · Thunderstorm wind 81 mph
  “Severe thunderstorm winds gusted to 70 MPH at Parker.”
• Miami County, KS (near Louisburg) · Thunderstorm wind 81 mph
  “Strong winds from the same severe thunderstorm that dropped the large hail near Paola produced damaging winds in the Louisburg area. Winds gusted to 70 MPH in downtown Louisburg and were also reported by a spotter at the intersection of Highways 169 and 58.”
• Pettis County, MO (near Hughesville) · Thunderstorm wind 69 mph
  “Severe thunderstorm winds blew down an old barn at Hughesville.”
• Bates County, MO (near Merwin) · Thunderstorm wind 69 mph
  “A Bates County citizen reported a 60 MPH wind gust at Merwin. No significant damage was reported.”

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