Storm reports for September 18, 1997

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

← Sep 17, 1997 All 1997 storm days · September 1997 Sep 19, 1997 →

Other storms on September 18 →

On September 18, 1997, 12 hail, 13 damaging-wind and 7 tornado reports were logged across 7 states. The largest hail reported was 3.00″ (teacup size) in Morrison County, MN. 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

Hail reports (12)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $1.9 million in property damage, $300,000 in crop damage, 1 injury and 1 death from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (34 events in 7 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Morrison County, MN (near Lastrup) · Tornado F3 · $1.7 million · 1 death · 1 injury
  “Several buildings destroyed and numerous other buildings damaged. Hundreds of trees down. A number of cattle killed in barn collapse. One man injured when the tornado engulfed his car and threw it into a nearby woods. A second man critically injured when his garage collapsed.”
• Cedar County, NE (near Coleridge) · Thunderstorm wind · $110,000
  “Thunderstorm winds destroyed a center pivot and a tree fell and destroyed a shed 3 miles northeast of Coleridge. The strong winds also damaged portion of a hog building 5 miles northeast of Coleridge.”
• Yankton County, SD (near Utica) · Thunderstorm wind 66 mph · $20,000
  “Thunderstorm winds destroyed a pole barn, at least two utility poles, and caused tree damage.”
• Mille Lacs County, MN (near Onamia) · Tornado F3
  “Several buildings destroyed and numerous other buildings damaged. Hundreds of trees down. A number of cattle killed in barn collapse. Damage estimate included in entry for Morrison county. Total path length from 1 NE of Lastup to Onamia was 17 miles.”
• Kanabec County, MN (near Woodland) · Tornado F2
  “2 homes severely damaged. Large barn destroyed. Numerous trees and power lines down.”
• Morrison County, MN (near Royalton) · Tornado F2
  “Several buildings severely damaged. Numerous trees and power lines 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