Storm reports for May 1, 2012

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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On May 1, 2012, 191 hail, 86 damaging-wind and 16 tornado reports were logged across 13 states. The largest hail reported was 5.00″ (softball size) in Ross County, OH.

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 (191)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $2.1 million in property damage, $1.5 million in crop damage and 1 death from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (293 events in 13 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Gates County, NC (near Eason Xrds) · Thunderstorm wind 58 mph · $2,000 · 1 death
  “Tree was downed on a vehicle on Middle Swamp Road. A man was killed when the tree fell on his car.”
• Stearns County, MN (near Albany) · Hail 1.75″ · $500,000
  “Golf ball size hail lasted for several minutes and caused extensive damage across the city, including numerous cars and home windows shattered.”
• Story County, IA (near Ames) · Thunderstorm wind 85 mph · $250,000
  “Garage doors were blown in with gutters torn off of an apartment complex in north Ames.”
• Franklin County, IN (near Mt Carmel) · Tornado EF1 · $250,000
  “The tornado touched down and produced significant damage to 3 farmsteads. There was damage to several large buildings which consisted primarily of aluminum and wood. Several small sheds which were not anchored down were either blown completely off their foundation or moved from the foundation.”
• Boone County, IA (near Boone) · Thunderstorm wind 70 mph · $100,000
  “The emergency manager reported that four 1 1/2 foot diameter evergreen trees were downed and the roof was torn off of a barn in the northwest corner of Boone. Also from a mile north of Boone to the eastern border of the county sheeting was strewn about from various buildings.”
• Stearns County, MN (near Freeport) · Hail 2.00″ · $100,000
  “Large hail stones, up to two inches in diameter, pelted the town of Freeport, Minnesota for several minutes and caused damage to electrical lines, and cars. The hail also accumulated up to 7 inches deep in some areas of town.”

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