Storm reports for July 20, 2003

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

← Jul 19, 2003 All 2003 storm days · July 2003 Jul 21, 2003 →

Other storms on July 20 →

On July 20, 2003, 140 hail, 199 damaging-wind and 17 tornado reports were logged across 21 states. The largest hail reported was 3.00″ (teacup size) in Stanton County, NE.

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 (140)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $79.8 million in property damage, $30 million in crop damage and 8 injuries from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (360 events in 21 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Owen County, IN (near Spencer) · Thunderstorm wind 63 mph · 5 injuries
  “Over 100 trees were toppled at McCormick Creek State Park injuring 5.”
• Carson City, NV (near Carson City) · Thunderstorm wind 58 mph · 2 injuries
  “A women and child were slightly injured by falling tree branches when thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 50 mph blew through Mills Park in Carson City.”
• Lincoln County, NE (near North Platte) · Hail 2.75″ · $7 million · 1 injury
  “Ping-pong ball to baseball size hail struck the east side of town. Hail damaged the bodies of nearly every vehicle and broke some windshields at an auto dealership and in residential areas on the east side of North Platte.”
• Henry County, IL (near Countywide) · Thunderstorm wind 92 mph · $50 million
  “Also reported by law enforcement, spotters, and emergency managers in the southern part of the county. Extensive damage in Woodhull, Alpha, Nekoma, and Galva. Law enforcement reported zero visibility at the height of the storm on I-74 with cars blown into the ditches.”
• Mercer County, IL (near Countywide) · Thunderstorm wind 81 mph · $10 million
  “Also reported by spotters. Considerable damage in Viola, Hamlet, North Henderson, and Aledo with numerous trees and power lines down. Large areas of corn flattened.”
• Cedar County, IA (near Clarence) · Tornado F1 · $1 million
  “Strong F1...winds estimated around 110 mph.”

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