Storm reports for May 23, 2008

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 23 →

On May 23, 2008, 127 hail, 45 damaging-wind and 79 tornado reports were logged across 11 states. The largest hail reported was 4.00″ (grapefruit size) in Gove County, KS. 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 (127)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $5.3 million in property damage, $3 million in crop damage, 7 injuries and 2 deaths from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (273 events in 11 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Pratt County, KS (near Sawyer) · Tornado EF3 · 2 deaths · 2 injuries
  “This 3/4 mile wide tornado produced EF3 damage and unfortunately claimed two lives. A husband and wife were parked on highway 54 approximately 2 1/4 miles east of Cairo.”
• Gove County, KS (near Quinter) · Tornado EF4 · $2.5 million · 2 injuries
  “A large wedge tornado developed about 9 miles SSW of Quinter and moved north, then northwest, eventually dissipating 2 miles SE of Park. This tornado caused extensive damage to several homes, including EF4 damage to one home which was completely destroyed.”
• Kingman County, KS (near Spivey) · Thunderstorm wind 60 mph · 1 injury
  “Trees and tree limbs less than 4 inches in diameter were downed. One minor injury occurred in Spivey, but details are unknown.”
• Edwards County, KS (near Belpre) · Tornado EF2 · 1 injury
  “This tornado moved out of Stafford county and did EF2 damage to a house and barn just west of the Stafford/Edwards county line. A Female received a serious injury when she was blown down the stairs. Pivot sprinklers and trees received EF1-2 damage.”
• Ellis County, KS (near Ellis) · Tornado EF1 · 1 injury
  “This tornado produced EF1 damage to outbuildings, a storage tank, power poles and houses in Ellis. A female was injured when she went out to get her horse and was hit by flying debris from the tornado.”
• Sheridan County, KS (near Tasco) · Tornado EF2 · $1 million
  “This tornado moved into southern Sheridan county from Gove county. It initially moved NNE, then straight north on Road 120E then turned back to the NNW before dissipating near Road 50S and 100E in Sheridan county.”

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