Storm reports for May 28, 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 28 →

On May 28, 1997, 58 hail, 23 damaging-wind and 7 tornado reports were logged across 9 states. The largest hail reported was 2.75″ (baseball size) in Catahoula Parish, LA.

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 (58)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $27.4 million in property damage from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (103 events in 9 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Lea County, NM (near Hobbs) · Hail 2.50″ · $27 million
  “This storm moving to the southeast became an HP Supercell as it passed over the city of Hobbs. By the time the storm arrived over the southern parts of town, hail up to tennis ball size was falling along with strong winds.”
• Catahoula Parish, LA (near Harrisonburg) · Hail 2.75″ · $100,000
  “Numerous automobiles and roofs of houses were damaged by baseball size hail.”
• Polk County, FL (near Dundee) · Thunderstorm wind · $20,000
  “Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree atop a home in Dundee. The roof of the home sustained minor to moderate damage. Two mobile homes sustained major roof damage from thunderstorm winds at the Royal Oak mobile home park.”
• Lea County, NM (near Hobbs) · Tornado F0 · $20,000
  “Damage occurred just west of the Hobbs city limit where RFD and tornadic winds were superimposed. The damage included a 15x20 ft wooden roof taken off an old shed, parts of two other roofs damaged, an awning from a trailer destroyed, a trailer pushed 3-4 feet off its foundation, and two utility…”
• Polk County, FL (near Winter Haven) · Thunderstorm wind · $10,000
  “Thunderstorm winds downed several power lines and traffic signs along U.S. Highway 27 and Thompson Nursey Road.”
• St. Martin Parish, LA (near Breaux Bridge) · Thunderstorm wind · $10,000
  “Severe thunderstorm winds damaged a house porch and shed. Several trees were also blown down.”

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