Storm reports for February 28, 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 February 28 →

On February 28, 1998, 23 hail, 7 damaging-wind and 4 tornado reports were logged across 5 states. The largest hail reported was 3.00″ (teacup size) in Pasco County, FL.

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 (23)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $1.2 million in property damage and 2 injuries from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (36 events in 5 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Broward County, FL (near Deerfield Beach) · Tornado F1 · $382,000 · 2 injuries
  “Touched down near dixie just north of Sample Rd. Proeceeded north northwest to Pompano Beach High School on SW 15th ST then proceeded northeast to SE 2nd AVE/SE 10th ST. The tornado may have skipped off the ground a few times. At Deerfield High School a dugout on the athletic field was destroyed.”
• Sarasota County, FL (near Sarasota) · Tornado F1 · $500,000
  “A tornado touched down at the Tuttle Elementary School at Brink Avenue north of County Road 780 (Fruitville Road) in Sarasota and severely damaged six classrooms, a portion of a portable dining room, downed a concrete wall and reduced a pavilion to a pile of rubble.”
• Pasco County, FL (near New Port Richey) · Hail 3.00″ · $150,000
  “Isolated tea cup sized hail was reported by the public at a restaurant in New Port Richey. A few vehicles and commercial rooftops incurred damage from the large hail.”
• Pasco County, FL (near Port Richey) · Thunderstorm wind · $100,000
  “Thunderstorm winds downed several large trees, numerous power lines, and damaged vehicles and the roofs of a few homes and businesses, mainly in the 6200 block of Florida Avenue in Port Richey.”
• Manatee County, FL (near Bradenton) · Thunderstorm wind · $5,000
  “Thunderstorm winds downed several large trees in the city of Bradenton.”
• Sarasota County, FL (near Sarasota) · Thunderstorm wind · $5,000
  “Thunderstorm winds downed several large trees in the city of Sarasota.”

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