Storm reports for January 9, 1998

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 January 9 →

On January 9, 1998, 8 hail, 26 damaging-wind and 1 tornado reports were logged across 8 states. The largest hail reported was 1.50″ (ping pong ball size) in Otsego County, NY.

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 (8)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $1,000 in property damage and 2 injuries from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (13 events in 4 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Los Angeles County, CA (near Long Beach) · Tornado F1 · 1 injury
  “A small tornado swept through eastern sections of Long Beach. The tornado developed over Los Altos Park and travelled northeast to Studebaker Road. The most significant damage occurred to a Lucky's Supermarket where a 60 foot by 60 foot section of their roof collapsed.”
• Allegheny County, PA (near Crafton) · Thunderstorm wind · $1,000
  “Several tree limbs were downed by thunderstorm winds. One-quarter inch hail also accumulated to a depth of one inch.”
• Otsego County, NY (near Exeter Center) · Hail 1.50″
  “A line of severe thunderstorms continued to push rapidly eastward into Otsego county, maintaining its intensity. A skywarn spotter reported golf ball sized hail as the storm passed Exeter Center. Once the storms moved into the eastern half of the county, their intensity began to weaken.”
• Broome County, NY (near Choconut Center) · Hail 1.00″
  “A fast moving squall line with embedded thunderstorms developed along a cold front as it crossed central New York during the midday hours. A thunderstorm cell became severe across northern Broome county and produced large hail.”
• Chenango County, NY (near Preston) · Hail 1.00″
  “A line of thunderstorms that produced large hail over northern Broome county continued to intensify as it plowed eastward across Chenango county. Numerous reports of hail were received across the county as the squall line moved through.”
• Herkimer County, NY (near Little Falls) · Hail 0.88″
  “During the afternoon of January 9, a cold front produced showers and thunderstorms across eastern New York. At Little Falls in Herkimer County, a severe thunderstorm dumped nickel size hail.”

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