Storm reports for May 23, 1998

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

← May 22, 1998 All 1998 storm days · May 1998 May 24, 1998 →

Other storms on May 23 →

On May 23, 1998, 95 hail, 55 damaging-wind and 2 tornado reports were logged across 11 states. The largest hail reported was 3.00″ (teacup size) in Butler 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 (95)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $7.3 million in property damage, $6.8 million in crop damage and 2 injuries from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (173 events in 11 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• New Hanover County, NC (near Wilmington) · Tornado F1 · $50,000 · 1 injury
  “Tornado touchdown occurred on U.S. 421, and proceeded about 1.5 miles SE to Monkey Junction at N.C. 132. Damage was spotty. A 30 foot camper trailer was tossed 150 feet into a vacant mobile home, destroying both. Roofing from another building broke through a windshield, injuring a woman.”
• Ford County, KS (near Dodge City) · Hail 2.50″ · $6 million
  “Golfball to tennis ball size hail affected much of the Dodge City area.”
• Franklin County, IL (near Sesser) · Thunderstorm wind 63 mph · $30,000
  “A severe thunderstorm struck the Rend Lake area, a major recreational area. A boat capsized on the lake. Damage occurred along a four-mile wide path in the vicinity of Illinois 154. Light poles were down.”
• Loup County, NE (near Taylor) · Hail 1.75″ · $30,000
  “Crops and property sustained significant damage due to large hail.”
• Garfield County, NE (near Burwell) · Hail 1.75″ · $30,000
  “Severe thunderstorms with large hail damaged alfalfa and other crops as well as houses and property.”
• Duplin County, NC (near Kenansville) · Thunderstorm wind · $25,000
  “Trees down throughout county...damage to houses and boats.”

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