Storm reports for May 5, 2003

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 May 5 →

On May 5, 2003, 220 hail, 108 damaging-wind and 22 tornado reports were logged across 17 states. The largest hail reported was 4.50″ (softball size) in Giles County, TN.

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 (220)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $2 million in property damage, $90,000 in crop damage and 2 injuries from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (347 events in 16 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Lincoln County, TN (near Belleville) · Tornado F3 · $50,000 · 2 injuries
  “The Oak Hill Baptist Church on Wiley Hollow Road was heavily damaged. The church was established in 1883. The nearby residence of the pastor had major roof damage. One of the parishioners was going to take shelter at the church.”
• Pulaski County, KY (near Science Hill) · Tornado F1 · $500,000
  “Over 20 homes and 4 barns were damaged or destroyed. Children were in a mobile home which had blown over on Kentucky Highway 1247, but were able to get out before emergency workers arrived.”
• Lauderdale County, AL (near Florence) · Tornado F1 · $200,000
  “five homes with roof damage and three barns destroyed along with at least 100 trees uprooted and twisted.”
• Oakland County, MI (near Leonard) · Tornado F1 · $90,000
  “A tornado touched down 1 mile southwest of Leonard and was on the ground for about 1 mile. Several large trees were uprooted from the tornado. A large pole barn was destroyed, a camper and trailer were overturned, the roof on a home was lifted off, and a truck was heavily damaged when a large tree…”
• Lincoln County, TN (near Howell) · Thunderstorm wind 92 mph · $50,000
  “Newspaper story reported one house was lost on Patton Hollow Road of U.S. Highway 431. 60 to 100 trees were blown down. One horse had to be put down because his leg was cut off to the bone.”
• Bolivar County, MS (near Cleveland) · Thunderstorm wind 63 mph · $50,000
  “An outbuilding and several storage buildings were destroyed, along with damage to a mobile home.”

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