Storm reports for August 20, 1997

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

← Aug 19, 1997 All 1997 storm days · August 1997 Aug 21, 1997 →

Other storms on August 20 →

On August 20, 1997, 55 hail, 70 damaging-wind and 3 tornado reports were logged across 14 states. The largest hail reported was 4.50″ (softball size) in Clark County, KS.

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 (55)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $4 million in property damage, 2 injuries and 1 death from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (147 events in 14 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Fannin County, TX (near Windom) · Thunderstorm wind 100 mph · $1.1 million · 1 injury
  “Strong winds, estimated at more than 100 mph, caused severe building damage, demolished two grain elevators, destroyed sheds, damaged homes, and blew down power lines. Flying debris injured a man at the feed mill, where much of the damage occurred.”
• Monroe County, MS (near Aberdeen) · Thunderstorm wind · $5,000 · 1 injury
  “A tree was knocked down and fell into a mobile home. One person in the trailer was injured by the fallen tree.”
• Clark County, KS (near Minneola) · Hail 4.50″ · $2 million
  “Nearly every window in the small community were broken with siding destroyed on many homes. Cars received considerable damage too. Shingles were also torn off. Skylights broken at the school.”
• Lamar County, TX (near Powderly) · Thunderstorm wind · $250,000
  “Strong winds damaged several hangars at the airport. Several small aircraft were also damaged by the winds.”
• Lamar County, TX (near Paris) · Thunderstorm wind · $200,000
  “Strong winds damaged hangars at Cox Field. A small aircraft was flipped and several others were damaged. Trees and power lines were blown down.”
• Highlands County, FL (near Sebring) · Tornado F0 · $100,000
  “A short-lived tornado caused roof damage to seven pre-fabricated homes, downed a handful of trees and a few power lines along U.S. Highway 98 in Lorida. Two of the homes suffered major roof damage while five received minor roof damage.”

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