Storm reports for December 17, 2002

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

← Dec 16, 2002 All 2002 storm days · December 2002 Dec 18, 2002 →

Other storms on December 17 →

On December 17, 2002, 59 hail, 16 damaging-wind and 9 tornado reports were logged across 5 states. The largest hail reported was 2.50″ (tennis ball size) in Polk County, MO. Tornadoes killed 3.

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 (59)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $1.4 million in property damage, 26 injuries and 3 deaths from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (85 events in 5 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Calhoun County, IL (near Batchtown) · Thunderstorm wind 63 mph
  “The Sheriff's Department reported some trees down in Batchtown.”
• Franklin County, MO (near Beaufort) · Thunderstorm wind 63 mph
  “The County Sheriff reported the roof of a house and a barn damaged by thunderstorm winds.”
• Franklin County, MO (near Union) · Thunderstorm wind 63 mph
  “The Washington Police Department reported power lines down in Highway 47.”
• Henry County, MO (near Deepwater) · Thunderstorm wind 60 mph
  “Tree limbs reported down. Also a report of hail but of unknown size.”
• Nowata County, OK (near Lenapah) · Thunderstorm wind 60 mph
  “Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down a large tree limb.”
• Craig County, OK (near Welch) · Thunderstorm wind 60 mph
  “Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down several large tree limbs.”

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