Storm reports for March 15, 2002

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 March 15 →

On March 15, 2002, 27 hail, 12 damaging-wind and 2 tornado reports were logged across 6 states. The largest hail reported was 2.00″ (hen egg size) in Newton County, AR.

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 (27)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $4.8 million in property damage from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (41 events in 6 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Jones County, MS (near Laurel) · Tornado F1 · $3.3 million
  “A tornado formed about three miles northwest of Laurel or between the cities of Laurel and Soso in northwest Jones County. The tornado moved northeast 1 mile, before dissipating two miles northwest of the Laurel.”
• Hinds County, MS (near Byram) · Tornado F1 · $1.4 million
  “The tornado touched down approximately four miles west of the city of Byram, then tracked northeast two miles. The worst damage occurred along and near Spring Wood Drive and Springdale Road, where nine homes sustained major, structural damage. Thirty other homes sustained minor damage in the area.”
• Smith County, MS (near Raleigh) · Thunderstorm wind · $50,000
  “Straight-line winds damaged a barn, destroyed a chicken house, and downed numerous trees west of the city of Raleigh.”
• Leflore County, MS (near Schlater) · Thunderstorm wind · $40,000
  “Damaging winds from a severe thunderstorm blew a cotton trailer into the walls of a QuickStop convenient store. The store sustained severe structural damage to a wall along with major roof damage.”
• Marion County, MS (near Columbia) · Thunderstorm wind · $25,000
  “Several trees were blown down across northeastern portion of the county, resulting in roof damage to a few rural homes. A tractor shed was also destroyed.”
• Simpson County, MS (near Mendenhall) · Thunderstorm wind · $20,000
  “A couple of rural homes had roof and structural damage.”

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