Storm reports for May 20, 2005

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 20 →

On May 20, 2005, 117 hail, 79 damaging-wind and 11 tornado reports were logged across 12 states. The largest hail reported was 2.50″ (tennis ball size) in Cass County, ND.

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 (117)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $4.5 million in property damage from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (210 events in 12 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Rankin County, MS (near Langford) · Thunderstorm wind 86 mph · $2 million
  “An intense and long duration downburst event occurred across a large part of Rankin county during the evening of May 20th. Damage began north of Brandon, near the Langford Community, and continued south-southwest along a path through Flowood, Pearl, Richland, Whitfield, Florence, Cleary and Whites.”
• Columbia County, GA (near Evans) · Thunderstorm wind 92 mph · $350,000
  “EM reported numerous trees down on homes, one home split in half, in the Country Place subdivision. Trees were laid out in a typical fan shape microburst pattern.”
• Columbus County, NC (near Tabor City) · Tornado F1 · $200,000
  “A NWS storm survey concluded a tornado touched down in the Mollie community. An areal survey showed that the tornado tracked NNE and crossed several county roads, farm fields, and wooded areas. The tornado produced three spots of F1 damage along its path with winds estimated between 73 and 112 mph.”
• Madison County, MS (near Madison) · Thunderstorm wind 86 mph · $150,000
  “An intense downburst occurred in Eastern Madison county and snapped or uprooted over 100 oak trees. Several of the fallen trees and large limbs injured some horses.”
• Attala County, MS (near Sallis) · Thunderstorm wind 69 mph · $100,000
  “Two homes were damaged in the Sallis Community when large trees fell on them. Additionally, several trees and a few power lines were blown down all around the area and along a 3 mile stretch of Highway 12.”
• Columbia County, GA (near Evans) · Thunderstorm wind 75 mph · $50,000
  “EM reported docks moved 70 feet and damaged along with minor damage to several boats. Eight to ten trees were down and a roof was damaged.”

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