Storm reports for October 24, 1997

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

← Oct 23, 1997 All 1997 storm days · October 1997 Oct 25, 1997 →

Other storms on October 24 →

On October 24, 1997, 16 hail, 6 damaging-wind and 6 tornado reports were logged across 6 states. The largest hail reported was 1.00″ (quarter size) in Lawrence County, TN.

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 (16)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $2.1 million in property damage, $15,000 in crop damage and 3 injuries from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (29 events in 6 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Bay County, FL (near Calloway) · Tornado F1 · $35,000 · 2 injuries
  “F1 tornado touched down on Florida Highway 22. A bread truck was lifted 15-20 feet into the air and thrown 100 feet into wooded area (driver seriously injured). A semitractor fuel tanker was overturned (driver sutained minor injuries).”
• Bay County, FL (near Panama City Beach) · Tornado F1 · $350,000 · 1 injury
  “Waterspout moved ashore. Extensive roof damage to beach front hotel, sewage treatment plant, middle school and convenient store. One minor injury sustained from flying debris.”
• Dale County, AL (near Echo) · Tornado F1 · $1 million
  “F1 tornado struck a chicken farm at Alabama Highway 27 and Dale County Road 67. Six of eight chicken houses were destroyed. Approximately 25,000 chickens were killed.”
• Gadsden County, FL (near Midway) · Tornado F1 · $200,000
  “Four F1 tornado touchdowns. Numerous 12-24" diameter trees uprooted on Gadsden County Road 159. Considerable debris on Florida Highway 27 five miles NE of Midway. Power outages in Midway.”
• Dale County, AL (near Midland City) · Thunderstorm wind 60 mph · $150,000
  “Severe thunderstorm winds caused minor roof damage to several homes.”
• Calhoun County, FL (near Kinard) · Tornado F1 · $100,000
  “Small F1 tornado destroyed storage sheds, mobile home and pickup truck along Florida Highway 73. One 24" diameter tree uprooted.”

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