Storm reports for May 26, 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 26 →

On May 26, 1997, 135 hail, 114 damaging-wind and 29 tornado reports were logged across 13 states. The largest hail reported was 3.50″ (teacup size) in Lawrence County, AL.

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 (135)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $1.6 million in property damage, $48,000 in crop damage and 1 injury from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (316 events in 13 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Pulaski County, AR (near Jacksonville) · Tornado F1 · $200,000
  “An F1 tornado touched down about 4 miles west of Jacksonville. The tornado first damaged the roof of a building 1.5 miles east of Highway 107. Several trees were also blown down in the same area.”
• Cross County, AR (near Vanndale) · Tornado F2 · $100,000
  “A tornado touched down near the town of Vanndale. Nearly 100 residential homes were damaged or destroyed. Three dozen mobile homes were damaged or destroyed. Three persons were injured. One cow was killed. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down.”
• Baxter County, AR (near Mountain Home) · Thunderstorm wind 58 mph · $50,000
  “Thunderstorm winds damaged a number of boats and boat sheds along a portion of Norfork Lake. A number of trees and power lines were also blown down.”
• Stoddard County, MO (near Dudley) · Thunderstorm wind 69 mph · $40,000
  “Trees were blown down in a line from Dudley to east of Dexter. Some roof damage and power line damage occurred. Siding was ripped from a house along Route 153. Trees landed across a few roads, including Route 51, which was blocked for a time.”
• Hughes County, OK (near Dustin) · Thunderstorm wind · $25,000
  “Severe thunderstorm winds destroyed a barn and feed silo and lifted a mobile home from its foundation, causing extensive damage. A dog pen was also lifted and blown onto a dog, killing the animal. A large tree was uprooted at this same location.”
• Grayson County, TX (near Denison) · Thunderstorm wind · $20,000
  “Strong winds destroyed an outdoor stage that was being used for a concert just a short time earlier.”

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