Storm reports for May 19, 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 May 19 →

On May 19, 1998, 123 hail, 80 damaging-wind and 13 tornado reports were logged across 14 states. The largest hail reported was 3.00″ (teacup size) in Story County, IA.

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 (123)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $2 million in property damage and $1.2 million in crop damage from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (240 events in 14 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Story County, IA (near Colo) · Hail 3.00″ · $500,000
  “Ground covered 4 inches deep between Colo and Collins”
• Vermilion County, IL (near Danville) · Thunderstorm wind · $350,000
  “A severe thunderstorm moved south across Vermilion County. It caused considerable damage to the roof of a canning factory in Danville, as well as, destroying a nearby gas station's sign and causing minor damage to a hotel roof.”
• Coles County, IL (near Countywide) · Thunderstorm wind · $60,000
  “A line of severe thunderstorms moved southeast across Coles County. It caused considerable damage. Numerous trees, power poles, and power lines were blown down throughout the county. One tree fell onto a house in Mattoon damaging the roof and front porch.”
• Vermilion County, IL (near Ridge Farm) · Tornado F0 · $50,000
  “A tornado touched down one mile west of Ridge Farm. It destroyed a barn and machine shed. Also, it damaged another barn, machine shed, and a grain bin. No injuries were reported and damage was estimated around $50,000.”
• Moultrie County, IL (near Lovington) · Thunderstorm wind · $42,000
  “Thunderstorm winds knocked down between 50 and 100 power poles between Lovington and Arthur (Douglas County). Also, a barn was damaged two miles north of Cadwell. No injuries were reported and damage was estimated around $42,000.”
• Lincoln County, NE (near North Platte) · Thunderstorm wind 59 mph · $17,000
  “Thunderstorm winds destroyed a large roof section of a high rise building in North Platte.”

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