Storm reports for May 21, 2024

Numbers you can quote

On May 21, 2024, about 135,000 homes were inside radar-estimated hail of 1 inch or larger across 45 counties; the most were in Tulsa County, OK (about 31,200).

• About 31,200 homes in Tulsa County, OK, were inside radar-estimated hail of 1 inch or larger on May 21, 2024. Swath image
• About 17,500 homes in Douglas County, NE, were inside radar-estimated hail of 1 inch or larger on May 21, 2024. Swath image
• About 11,000 homes in Miami-Dade County, FL, were inside radar-estimated hail of 1 inch or larger on May 21, 2024. Swath image

1 more county

• About 10,800 homes in Dodge County, NE, were inside radar-estimated hail of 1 inch or larger on May 21, 2024. Swath image

Homes are 2020 Census housing units in block groups whose center of population lay inside NOAA MRMS radar-estimated hail (MESH) of 1 inch or larger during the storm day (7 a.m. to 7 a.m. Eastern). These are radar estimates of hail size, not damage counts. More same-day numbers

Cite: National Storms. “Storm reports for May 21, 2024.” https://nationalstorms.com/storms/2024-05-21/. Data through November 6, 2026. License: CC BY 4.0.

IndependentNot affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports; NOAA MRMS radar hail estimates (MESH) via the Iowa Environmental Mesonet; 2020 Census housing units. Data through November 6, 2026. Methodology

← May 20, 2024 All 2024 storm days · May 2024 May 22, 2024 →

Other storms on May 21 →

On May 21, 2024, 145 hail, 371 damaging-wind and 38 tornado reports were logged across 17 states. The largest hail reported was 3.00″ (teacup size) in Tulsa County, OK. Radar estimated hail of 1 inch or larger over 2,566 square miles containing about 140,000 homes. Tornadoes killed 5.

Storm day runs 7 a.m. to 7 a.m. Eastern (12:00–12:00 UTC), the convention the Storm Prediction Center uses. Colored areas are NOAA MRMS radar estimates of the largest hail (MESH) over the day, lower 48 states only; radar overestimates and underestimates size, so read it with the ground reports.

Storm reports by state

Cities with the largest radar-estimated hail

Counties by homes inside 1″+ radar-estimated hail

Homes are 2020 Census housing units and people are 2020 Census residents, counted by block group where its center of population lies under radar-estimated hail of 1 inch or larger.

Hail reports (145)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $50.7 million in property damage, $1.5 million in crop damage, 39 injuries and 5 deaths from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (564 events in 17 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Adair County, IA (near Fisk) · Tornado EF4 · $30 million · 4 deaths · 35 injuries
  “This large and violent tornado entered into south central Adair County from Adams County. The tornado remained a multi-vortex circulation as it moved into the county producing high end damage for much of its remaining path.”
• Adams County, IA (near Nodaway) · Tornado EF3 · $1.8 million · 1 death
  “The tornado entered into Adams County after clipping the northwest corner of Taylor County. Damage was immediate on the county border with damage to trees and and to farm buildings and power poles within the first few miles in the county.”
• Polk County, IA (near Rider) · Tornado EF2 · $5.2 million · 2 injuries
  “This was a long track tornado which started just to the southwest of the Johnston High School with fascia and soffit damage to houses along Catalina Drive. The tornado blew windows out of the high school and continued to produce tree and minor roof damage through the Ashton Point neighborhood.”
• Story County, IA (near Cambridge) · Tornado EF2 · $3.2 million · 2 injuries
  “This tornado moved into Story County from Polk County. The tornado was quite wide at this point nearing 1000 yards wide at times. Along Highway 210 southeast of Cambridge, 8 large wooden and relatively new higher voltage power poles were snapped.”
• Dane County, WI (near Mt Horeb) · Tornado EF1 · $1.1 million
  “Tornado began near Springdale where it hit a farm. Two sheds were lofted into a nearby woods where numerous trees were damaged and placed in a crisscross manner. The tornado then crossed Highway 18-151 while tracking to the northeast.”
• Adams County, IA (near Dickieville) · Tornado EF3 · $1 million
  “The tornado entered into Adams County from Montgomery County. This tornado remained in rural areas of western and northern Adams County until lifting north of the town of Carl near the Adair County line.”

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