Storm reports for May 21, 1997

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

← May 20, 1997 All 1997 storm days · May 1997 May 22, 1997 →

Other storms on May 21 →

On May 21, 1997, 7 hail, 5 damaging-wind and 3 tornado reports were logged across 6 states. The largest hail reported was 1.75″ (golf ball size) in Cassia County, ID.

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 (7)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $56,000 in property damage from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (17 events in 6 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Colorado County, TX (near Sheridan) · Tornado F0 · $25,000
  “Tornado blew down powerlines, temporary buildings, and 12" diameter trees”
• Vermilion Parish, LA (near Henry) · Tornado F0 · $15,000
  “A small tornado touched down on the southside of Henry, damaging two barns and several trees, as well as tipping over an 18 wheel sugarcane truck.”
• Pike County, MS (near Summit) · Thunderstorm wind · $1,000
  “Civil Defense director reported several trees were downed by wind gusts.”
• Logan County, CO (near Proctor) · Thunderstorm wind 58 mph
  “Strong thunderstorm winds blew the top off a corn receiving mill south of Proctor during the afternoon. Two of the corn receiving legs were blown down, toppling the top of the mill. The peak wind gust was estimated and the exact time of the incident was unknown.”
• Bannock County, ID (near Pocatello) · Hail 1.00″
  “County Emergency Director reported quarter-size hail at County Jail in SE part of Pocatello”
• Bannock County, ID (near Pocatello) · Hail 1.00″
  “Reported by weather spotter about 1 mile southeast of County Jail.”

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