Storm reports for May 31, 2002

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

← May 30, 2002 All 2002 storm days · May 2002 Jun 1, 2002 →

Other storms on May 31 →

On May 31, 2002, 115 hail, 218 damaging-wind and 11 tornado reports were logged across 20 states. The largest hail reported was 2.50″ (tennis ball size) in Potter County, PA.

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 (115)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $12.7 million in property damage, $258,000 in crop damage, 64 injuries and 1 death from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (343 events in 19 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Tioga County, NY (near Owego) · Tornado F1 · $600,000 · 7 injuries
  “The tornado first touched down about a mile and a half northeast of the village of Owego, along Carmichael Road. As the tornado passed over a ridge toward Beecher Hill Road, the most extensive damage occurred.”
• Delaware County, NY (near Lordville) · Tornado F1 · $10,000 · 1 injury
  “The tornado initially touched down across the Delaware River from Lordville, traveled east, and lifted out of the river valley approximately a mile and a half downstream or east of Lordville at Bouchoux Brook. The damage path was approximately a quarter mile wide.”
• Knox County, OH (near Fredericktown) · Thunderstorm wind · $175,000
  “Thunderstorm winds downed 35 trees approximately five miles northeast of Mount Vernon. One home was destroyed by fallen trees and three others were significantly damaged. Six additional trees were downed in Fredericktown.”
• Knox County, OH (near Gambier) · Thunderstorm wind · $50,000
  “Thunderstorm winds downed at least 20 trees.”
• Polk County, FL (near Lakeland) · Thunderstorm wind 60 mph · $30,000
  “A microburst, emanating from a severe storm which originated in Pasco Co and drifted southeast, produced a small area of damage, roughly 1/3 by 1/2 mile, along two residential streets off Old Polk City Road north of Lakeland.”
• Franklin County, OH (near Hilliard) · Thunderstorm wind 58 mph · $25,000
  “A brief microburst cause minor damage to some homes, along with downed trees and poowerlines. Three barns in the area also sustained some minor 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