Storm reports for August 16, 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 August 16 →

On August 16, 1997, 62 hail, 277 damaging-wind and 12 tornado reports were logged across 22 states. The largest hail reported was 3.50″ (teacup size) in Prowers County, CO. Tornadoes killed 1.

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 (62)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $2.7 million in property damage, $116,000 in crop damage, 17 injuries and 8 deaths from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (389 events in 22 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Cuyahoga County, OH (near Cleveland) · Thunderstorm wind · $75,000 · 2 deaths
  “During a sailboat race on Lake Erie, two people who were not wearing life preservers, were swept overboard by high waves and drowned. A total of four boats capsized and twelve people were swept overboard.”
• Wayne County, PA (near Lake Ariel) · Thunderstorm wind · $45,000 · 1 death
  “Severe thunderstorms continued to plow eastward across northern Pennsylvania and produced more extensive wind damage over southern sections of the county. Many large trees and power lines were toppled in an area from Lake Ariel eastward to the Hawley vicinity.”
• Sullivan County, PA (near Nordmont) · Tornado F1 · 1 death
  “41/20/13N, 76/19/37W to 41/20/06N, 76/18/43W. The Ricketts Glen tornado was another example of tornadic winds embedded within a wider area of downburst damage. Downburst damage covered an area of about 3 miles wide from Ganoga Lake southeast to Lake Jean.”
• McDonald County, MO (near Pineville) · Thunderstorm wind · $5,000 · 1 injury
  “Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and power lines in the county.”
• Sullivan County, PA (near Eagles Mere) · Tornado F1 · 1 injury
  “41/24/39N, 76/40/51W to 41/25N, 76/35W. Woman age 45 was injured by falling tree while hiking near High Knob in Wyoming State Forest.”
• Erie County, PA (near Union City) · Tornado F2 · $500,000
  “A tornado touched down and skipped along its path for several minutes. Twenty mobile homes were damaged and one was destroyed at the Maple Heights Trailer Court. A sixty by eighty foot block building was destroyed. Three houses and one business were damaged.”

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