Storm reports for October 26, 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 October 26 →

On October 26, 1997, 9 hail, 18 damaging-wind and 20 tornado reports were logged across 5 states. The largest hail reported was 1.75″ (golf ball size) in Laurens County, GA.

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 (9)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $2.7 million in property damage and 3 injuries from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (49 events in 5 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Bacon County, GA (near Alma) · Tornado F2 · $200,000 · 1 injury
  “Ten homes destroyed, four with major damage, and 17 sustained minor damage. A four mile line of standing pine timber was completely destroyed.”
• Calhoun County, FL (near Blountstown) · Tornado F1 · $50,000 · 1 injury
  “F1 tornado destroyed one home five miles west of Blountstown. One minor injury reported.”
• Walton County, FL (near Seagrove Beach) · Tornado F1 · $500,000
  “Two waterspouts moved ashore at Seagrove Beach along Walton County Road 30A and Seacrest Drive. Eleven homes heavily damaged and one destroyed.”
• Washington County, FL (near Greenhead) · Tornado F1 · $350,000
  “An F1 tornado touched down five miles southeast of Vernon near Greenhead on Highway 279. Three barns, a pickup truck and a doublewide trailer were destroyed. Two homes sustained roof damage. Numerous trees were uprooted.”
• Miller County, GA (near Mayhaw) · Tornado F1 · $300,000
  “Several F1 tornado touchdowns in southern Miller County. Felled 24" diameter pines damaged a mobile home on Mayhaw Road. One home heavily damaged and nearby boat, camper and chicken house destroyed. Many power lines down countywide.”
• Washington County, FL (near Vernon) · Tornado F1 · $250,000
  “Two F1 tornados reported along Highway 277 near Vernon. Several homes suffered considerable roof damage. A mobile home was damaged between Vernon and Wausau on Highway 79.”

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