Storm reports for April 21, 2002

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

← Apr 20, 2002 All 2002 storm days · April 2002 Apr 22, 2002 →

Other storms on April 21 →

On April 21, 2002, 26 hail, 28 damaging-wind and 1 tornado reports were logged across 6 states. The largest hail reported was 1.75″ (golf ball size) in Randolph County, IL. Tornadoes killed 1.

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 (26)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $4.2 million in property damage, 42 injuries and 1 death from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (56 events in 6 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Wayne County, IL (near Wayne City) · Tornado F3 · $4 million · 1 death · 42 injuries
  “The tornado entered Wayne County about a half mile north of Illinois Route 15, then proceeded to move northeast to a point about 1.5 miles north of Wayne City. The tornado then paralleled Route 15 just north of Sims.”
• Franklin County, IL (near Rend Lake South) · Hail 1.75″ · $100,000
  “Golf ball size hail occurred at the Sesser exit of Interstate 57, and half-dollar size hail occurred at Rend Lake. At least a couple dozen vehicles and 50 homes were damaged to some degree.”
• Randolph County, IL (near Central Portion) · Hail 1.75″ · $25,000
  “A severe thunderstorm produced a swath of golf ball size hail across the county. Golf-ball size hail began along the Randolph County line near Cutler and continued east across Pinckneyville. Quarter size hail fell at Tamaroa. There were at least several homes and vehicles damaged by the hail.”
• Vanderburgh County, IN (near Evansville) · Thunderstorm wind 58 mph · $20,000
  “Thunderstorm winds downed some trees. About a dozen homes were damaged by falling trees or tree limbs.”
• Mercer County, KY (near Countywide) · Thunderstorm wind 81 mph · $10,000
  “Trees were blown down at Shakertown and Salvisa. The roof was blown off a barn near Salvisa.”
• Pike County, IN (near Petersburg) · Thunderstorm wind 58 mph · $10,000
  “Large tree limbs were blown down, and three homes received roof 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