Storm reports for September 26, 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 September 26 →

On September 26, 2003, 48 hail, 81 damaging-wind and 5 tornado reports were logged across 9 states. The largest hail reported was 2.00″ (hen egg size) in Adams County, IL.

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 (48)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $15 million in property damage, $30,000 in crop damage and 2 injuries from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (134 events in 9 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Coles County, IL (near Mattoon) · Tornado F1 · $10 million · 1 injury
  “A tornado touched down 4 miles north northeast of Mattoon near a printing plant. It then traveled east damaging several buildings at the plant. Almost 500,000 square feet of the roof was damaged or destroyed.”
• Jefferson County, MO (near Pevely) · Thunderstorm wind 63 mph · 1 injury
  “Thunderstorm wind gusts caused problems at the Pevely Fall Festival. Several tents were blown down and booths damaged. One woman suffered minor injuries when she was struck by a tent pole.”
• Warren County, OH (near Mason) · Thunderstorm wind 90 mph · $4 million
  “An intense microburst caused extensive damage to homes and businesses across the southern part of the county. Several buildings sustained major damage along Mason-Montgomery Road. Up to fifty windows were blown out at Kings Junior High School.”
• Hamilton County, IN (near Arcadia) · Tornado F1 · $300,000
  “An F1 tornado cut a 2 and a quarter mile path across northern Hamilton near Arcadia damaging 1 home and destroying several barns. The tornado also knocked down numerous trees there.”
• Shelby County, OH (near Port Jefferson) · Thunderstorm wind 104 mph · $150,000
  “A strong microburst caused damage to homes across the eastern part of the county. One house was blown off of its foundation, and several others sustained major damage. Numerous trees were downed across the area. Maximum wind speeds were estimated between 100 and 120 mph.”
• Darke County, OH (near New Weston) · Tornado F1 · $100,000
  “A brief tornado touched down across the extreme northern part of the county. One barn was destroyed, and another barn had its roof blown off. Two nearby silos sustained some damage. In total, nine farm buildings sustained damage from the tornado. Two nearby houses had minor structural damage.”

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