Storm reports for August 18, 1997

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

← Aug 17, 1997 All 1997 storm days · August 1997 Aug 19, 1997 →

Other storms on August 18 →

On August 18, 1997, 29 hail, 38 damaging-wind and 4 tornado reports were logged across 16 states. The largest hail reported was 1.75″ (golf ball size) in Caribou 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 (29)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $80,000 in property damage and $2,000 in crop damage from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (81 events in 16 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Dare County, NC (near Rodanthe) · Thunderstorm wind · $10,000
  “Campers overturned by a thunderstorm wind gust. Coast Guard station nearby measured a peak gust of 53 mph.”
• Midland County, TX (near Midland) · Thunderstorm wind · $10,000
  “Damaging outflow winds from thunderstorms knocked down trees and power lines in Midland.”
• Chilton County, AL (near Jemison) · Thunderstorm wind 58 mph · $8,000
  “A portion of the roof of a house under construction was ripped off. Several large trees were knocked down.”
• Woods County, OK (near Alva) · Thunderstorm wind · $8,000
  “Severe thunderstorm winds completely destroyed a shed and damaged all other buildings on a farm just southeast of Alva.”
• Carter County, OK (near Healdton) · Thunderstorm wind 66 mph · $6,000
  “Severe thunderstorm winds estimated at 65 mph downed 2 trees and destroyed a few outbuildings.”
• Shelby County, AL (near Alabaster) · Thunderstorm wind 58 mph · $6,000
  “Numerous trees and power lines were down across the city of Alabaster.”

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