Storm reports for December 31, 2002

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

← Dec 30, 2002 All 2002 storm days · December 2002 Jan 21, 2003 →

Other storms on December 31 →

On December 31, 2002, 1 hail, 8 damaging-wind and 2 tornado reports were logged across 3 states. The largest hail reported was 0.75″ (penny size) in Mobile County, AL.

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 (1)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $680,000 in property damage from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (11 events in 3 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Okaloosa County, FL (near Florosa) · Tornado F1 · $600,000
  “A tornado moved onshore near Florosa and caused damage as it moved northeast through a small subdivision. Two older manufactured homes were destroyed near the water as the tornado moved inland. The tornado moved across U. S. Highway 98 before dissipating.”
• Mobile County, AL (near Mt Vernon) · Thunderstorm wind 63 mph · $20,000
  “High winds from a thunderstorm blew down several trees near Mt Vernon. A fireworks stand was turned over by the winds and a tire store had some tin blown off of it.”
• Escambia County, FL (near Warrington) · Thunderstorm wind 58 mph · $15,000
  “High winds from a thunderstorm blew down several trees near Warrington. A home in the same area also suffered minor roof damage caused by the high winds.”
• Sarasota County, FL (near Sarasota) · Tornado F0 · $15,000
  “A tornado that began as a waterspout moved onshore near Tidewood Avenue and Southwood street in Sarasota, tearing shingles off roofs, breaking windows and tossing debris. Also, a furniture store received some roof and water damage.”
• Baldwin County, AL (near Gulf Shrs) · Thunderstorm wind 63 mph · $10,000
  “High winds from a thunderstorm, moving in from the Gulf, caused minor roof damage to a condominium located near the water in Gulf Shores.”
• George County, MS (near Lucedale) · Thunderstorm wind 58 mph · $8,000
  “High winds from a thunderstorm blew down several trees and power lines near Lucedale.”

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