Storm reports for May 6, 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 6 →

On May 6, 2003, 422 hail, 230 damaging-wind and 75 tornado reports were logged across 20 states. The largest hail reported was 4.50″ (softball size) in Jasper County, MO. Tornadoes killed 2.

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 (422)

Showing the 300 largest of 422.

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $34.6 million in property damage, 61 injuries and 2 deaths from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (750 events in 20 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Massac County, IL (near Hillerman) · Tornado F4 · $10 million · 1 death · 20 injuries
  “The tornado was near its maximum F-4 intensity as it crossed the Pulaski County line into western Massac County near the community of Hillerman. Estimated winds of 210 MPH disintegrated mobile homes and levelled several modern frame homes.”
• Pulaski County, IL (near Grand Chain) · Tornado F4 · $3.5 million · 1 death · 13 injuries
  “This violent tornado began near Grand Chain and reached its maximum intensity of 210 MPH as it neared the Massac County line. A 53-year-old man was killed when the chimney of his house collapsed on him.”
• Elbert County, GA (near Bowman) · Tornado F2 · $200,000 · 12 injuries
  “This tornado moved from Madison County into northwest Elbert County and intensified, destroying or severely damaging several houses and mobile homes. A parked car was also flipped before the tornado lifted.”
• Wood County, TX (near Mineola) · Tornado F2 · $330,000 · 5 injuries
  “A strong cyclic supercell tornado developed over Mineola, Texas while a strong tornado developed shortly there after and moved to the east northeast. Numerous Pine, Oak, and other species of trees were either snapped or pushed over along the entire tornado track.”
• Williamsburg County, SC (near Hemingway) · Tornado F1 · $320,000 · 3 injuries
  “A National Weather Service storm survey determined an F1 tornado touched down approximately 2.5 miles west of Hemingway. The tornado overturned two singlewide mobile homes and tore the roof off another, dropping it on a vehicle and causing damage. The damage estimate in this area was $100K.”
• Cape Girardeau County, MO (near Jackson) · Tornado F3 · $12 million · 2 injuries
  “The tornado touched down at the intersection of Highway 34 and Business Loop I-55 in Jackson, then moved northeast across downtown Jackson and the Bent Creek Golf Course. The damage path ended about 300 yards short of Interstate 55. Several trees blocked Interstate 55 near Jackson.”

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