Heads up! Small hail spotted in these regions: McAllen, TX • Laredo, TX • Columbia, SC      ATTENTION! Damaging hail detected. Hail tracking is now active for these regions: Casper, WY • Greenville, NC • Albuquerque, NM • Wilmington, NC • Kingsport, TN • Grand Junction, CO • Fayetteville, NC • Raleigh, NC • Saint Louis, MO • Champaign, IL • Owensboro, KY • Knoxville, TN • Evansville, IN • Farmington, NM • Louisville, KY • Provo, UT      
HailGeeks
NOAA/NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER STORM REPORTS

Hail, Wind & Tornado Reports on May 17, 1997

Public hail, wind, and tornado reports across the United States on May 17, 1997 from May 17, 1997 through May 17, 1997, sourced from NOAA/NWS Local Storm Reports and SPC storm report data.

Pick any date to see hail, wind and tornado public reports for that day — e.g. September 18, 2026.
Hail Reports
70
Wind Reports
11
Tornado Reports
1
Max Hail Size
4.50″
Source  NOAA SPC · NWS Local Storm Reports Coverage  United States · May 17, 1997 · 1997–present Updated  Daily · last May 17, 1997

NWS Hail Reports on May 17, 1997

70 reports
Free hail report for your home →
0.75″ hail
May 17, 1997
10:45 PM CST
Hail report for May 17, 1997
Benton County · 9,835 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 5 SE Warsaw, MO
1.75″ hail
May 17, 1997
9:40 PM CST
Hail report for May 17, 1997
Pulaski County · 12,403 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Dixon, MO
0.75″ hail
May 17, 1997
9:25 PM CST
Hail report for May 17, 1997
Maries County · 3,219 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 5 S Vienna, MO
0.75″ hail
May 17, 1997
9:15 PM CST
Hail report for May 17, 1997
Phelps County · 12,902 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Rolla, MO
1.75″ hail
May 17, 1997
9:15 PM CST
Hail report for May 17, 1997
Washington County · 7,167 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Skywarn spotters reported golfball size hail.
NWS Hail Report Location: Mineral Pt, MO
1.75″ hail
May 17, 1997
9:10 PM CST
Hail report for May 17, 1997
Pulaski County · 12,403 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Hancock, MO
1.00″ hail
May 17, 1997
8:45 PM CST
Hail report for May 17, 1997
Richardson County · 3,696 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 6 N Falls City, NE
0.75″ hail
May 17, 1997
8:45 PM CST
Hail report for May 17, 1997
Benton County · 9,835 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Warsaw, MO
1.75″ hail
May 17, 1997
8:40 PM CST
Hail report for May 17, 1997
Linn County · 4,188 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: The same super cell severe thunderstorm that produced 70 MPH winds in Parker, dropped golfball-size hail 5 miles east of Parker.
NWS Hail Report Location: 5 E Parker, KS
0.75″ hail
May 17, 1997
8:33 PM CST
Hail report for May 17, 1997
Anderson County · 3,159 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Garnett, KS
1.75″ hail
May 17, 1997
8:27 PM CST
Hail report for May 17, 1997
Cass County · 35,260 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: A second round of severe thunderstorms produced large hail over portions of Cass County. A HAM Radio operator reported golfball-size hail at Gunn City.
NWS Hail Report Location: Gunn City, MO
1.00″ hail
May 17, 1997
8:17 PM CST
Hail report for May 17, 1997
Miller County · 8,808 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Iberia, MO
0.75″ hail
May 17, 1997
8:16 PM CST
Hail report for May 17, 1997
Benton County · 9,835 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 2 W Warsaw, MO
0.75″ hail
May 17, 1997
8:11 PM CST
Hail report for May 17, 1997
Roberts County · 3,945 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 9 SW Sisseton, SD
1.75″ hail
May 17, 1997
8:10 PM CST
Hail report for May 17, 1997
Miami County · 11,659 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: A severe weather spotter reported golfball-size hail near Osawatomie during a slow moving super cell severe thunderstorm.
NWS Hail Report Location: Osawatomie, KS
Showing 15 of 70
Hail Damage Risk for Your Home +

Hail reports describe hail by diameter, often comparing stone size to familiar objects like peas, quarters, golf balls, and softballs. Use this guide as a starting point for possible hail damage to your roof, siding, gutters, vents, windows, and exterior. Actual hail damage depends on hail hardness, density, wind speed, impact angle, roof age, shingle condition, roof pitch, roofing material, installation quality, and prior storm damage.

Pea
0.25″
Low

Usually too small to cause hail damage to most sound asphalt roofs, siding, or gutters.

Mothball
0.50″
Sub-Severe Watch

Below the NWS severe-hail threshold, but not always harmless. Repeated small hail can scuff surfaces, wear aging shingles, and loosen protective granules over time.

Penny
0.75″
Minor / Watch

Below the NWS severe-hail threshold, but roof hail damage is still possible on older, brittle, poorly installed, or previously damaged shingles. May also mark screens, vents, gutters, and soft metal.

Nickel
0.88″
Minor / Watch

Still below the severe-hail threshold, but large enough to leave visible marks on soft metal and add wear to older or hail-weakened roof shingles.

Quarter
1.00″
Watch

The NWS severe-hail threshold. Quarter-size hail can bruise shingles, dent soft metal, and create roof hail damage worth checking.

Half Dollar
1.25″
Watch

More likely to dent gutters, vents, flashing, and siding. Hail damage risk rises quickly on older roofs or hail-weakened shingles.

Ping Pong / Walnut
1.50″
Likely

Hail damage becomes more likely, including bruised shingles, granule loss, dented siding, and damaged roof vents.

Golf Ball
1.75″
Likely

Often causes roof hail damage, cracked shingles, dented gutters, damaged flashing, and siding impacts. A roof inspection is recommended.

Hen Egg
2.00″
Serious

Can crack or puncture shingles, expose mat, dent siding, and cause widespread hail damage across the roof and exterior.

Tennis Ball
2.50″
Serious

Can cause heavy roof hail damage, punctured siding, broken skylights, damaged vents, and widespread exterior damage.

Baseball
2.75″
Major

Major hail damage is likely, including severe roof impacts, damaged siding, broken windows, and possible major roof repairs.

Tea Cup / Large Apple
3.00″
Major

Can cause heavy hail damage across the roof, siding, gutters, windows, and exterior. Significant repairs are often needed.

Softball
4.00″
Extreme

Destructive hail damage. Can severely damage roofing materials, siding, windows, gutters, vents, vehicles, and exterior surfaces.

Grapefruit
4.50″
Extreme

Catastrophic hail damage risk for roofs, windows, vehicles, siding, gutters, and exterior surfaces.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service hail size references are used for hail-size comparisons and the 1.00″ severe-hail threshold. Damage descriptions are general homeowner guidance, not official NOAA/NWS damage ratings. Sub-severe hail under 1.00″ is below the severe threshold, but that does not mean “no roof damage.” Penny- to nickel-size hail can still contribute to granule loss, cosmetic surface marks, and added wear, especially on older, brittle, poorly installed, or previously damaged roofs.

NWS Wind Reports on May 17, 1997

11 reports
Free hail report + wind check →
86 mph
May 17, 1997
9:20 PM CST
Wind report for May 17, 1997
Bates County · 5,552 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Severe thunderstorm winds were observed at 75 MPH in Butler. Several large trees were knocked down with the strong winds. In Rich Hill the thunderstorm winds knocked down power lines. The same severe thunderstorm produced dime-size hail as reported by the Rich Hill Police Department.
NWS Wind Report Location: Butler, MO
69 mph
May 17, 1997
9:15 PM CST
Wind report for May 17, 1997
Pettis County · 14,635 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Severe thunderstorm winds blew down an old barn at Hughesville.
NWS Wind Report Location: Hughesville, MO
69 mph
May 17, 1997
8:35 PM CST
Wind report for May 17, 1997
Bates County · 5,552 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: A Bates County citizen reported a 60 MPH wind gust at Merwin. No significant damage was reported.
NWS Wind Report Location: Merwin, MO
81 mph
May 17, 1997
8:27 PM CST
Wind report for May 17, 1997
Linn County · 4,188 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Severe thunderstorm winds gusted to 70 MPH at Parker.
NWS Wind Report Location: Parker, KS
79 mph
May 17, 1997
7:42 PM CST
Wind report for May 17, 1997
Douglas County · 28,496 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Globe, KS
81 mph
May 17, 1997
7:35 PM CST
Wind report for May 17, 1997
Miami County · 11,659 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Strong winds from the same severe thunderstorm that dropped the large hail near Paola produced damaging winds in the Louisburg area. Winds gusted to 70 MPH in downtown Louisburg and were also reported by a spotter at the intersection of Highways 169 and 58.
NWS Wind Report Location: Louisburg, KS
60 mph
May 17, 1997
6:50 PM CST
Wind report for May 17, 1997
Osage County · 6,057 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: 1 S Carbondale, KS
60 mph
May 17, 1997
6:45 PM CST
Wind report for May 17, 1997
Shawnee County · 58,098 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Dover, KS
UNK mph
May 17, 1997
6:20 PM CST
Wind report for May 17, 1997
York County · 4,978 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: An isolated thunderstorm produced a dry microburst south of Henderson. The resulting wind partially damaged an irrigation pivot which was running at the time.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 S Henderson, NE
60 mph
May 17, 1997
4:52 PM CST
Wind report for May 17, 1997
Dickinson County · 7,784 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: 5 S Navarre, KS
69 mph
May 17, 1997
4:25 PM CST
Wind report for May 17, 1997
Ripley County · 3,793 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Trees were blown down along a path half a mile to one mile wide.
NWS Wind Report Location: 11 N Doniphan, MO
Showing 11 of 11
Wind Damage Risk for Your Home +

Storm reports list thunderstorm wind gusts in mph. The NWS marks storms as severe at 58+ mph, but wind damage to your home depends on roof age, shingle condition, installation, exposure, nearby trees, and prior hail or wind damage.

Below Severe
Under 58 mph
Minor

Usually little damage to a sound roof, but loose shingles, flashing, or debris may shift.

Severe
58–74 mph
Watch

Can loosen shingles, lift flashing, break limbs, and damage gutters, siding, fences, or trim.

Damaging
75–90 mph
Serious

Can peel shingles, damage vents, tear siding, rip gutters, and expose weak roof areas.

Extreme
90+ mph
Major

Can cause major roof covering loss, tree damage, broken windows, and structural damage.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service storm reports. Gusts may be measured or estimated; actual wind damage varies by roof condition, exposure, and prior hail or wind damage.

NWS Tornado Reports on May 17, 1997

1 reports
F0 category
May 17, 1997
8:45 PM CST
Tornado report for May 17, 1997
Crawford County · 8,687 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: Cuba police reported a brief tornado touchdown south of Cuba along Highway 19.. Damage was liimited to a few trees down.
NWS Tornado Report Location: 4 S Cuba, MO
Showing 1 of 1
Tornado Damage Risk for Your Home +

After a tornado, the National Weather Service assigns an EF rating from EF0 to EF5 based on surveyed damage. The rating estimates wind speed from what the tornado damaged, so actual damage can vary by construction quality, roof age, garage doors, windows, trees, debris, and how close the home was to the tornado path.

EF0
65–85 mph
Light

Can peel shingles, damage gutters or siding, break tree limbs, and toss loose outdoor items.

EF1
86–110 mph
Moderate

Can strip roof covering, damage exterior doors, break windows, snap trees, and cause heavier siding or gutter damage.

EF2
111–135 mph
Serious

Can tear off large sections of roofing, break or uproot trees, destroy weaker structures, and cause major exterior damage.

EF3–EF5
136+ mph
Severe

Can remove roofs and walls, destroy large portions of homes, toss vehicles, and cause severe to total destruction near the path.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service. EF ratings are assigned after a post-storm damage survey and are based on observed damage, not a direct measurement at every home.

NWS Hail, Wind and Tornado Reports on May 17, 1997 on the Interactive Map

Report type
Hail
Wind
Tornado

Get a Remote Hail Inspection

Not sure if hail may have affected your home on May 17, 1997? Ask a local pro for a Remote Hail Inspection. They can review hail activity for your property and help you decide whether an in-person roof or exterior inspection makes sense.

Frequently asked questions

for homeowners, buyers & sellers
How many storm reports were recorded on May 17, 1997?

Our records show 70 hail, 11 wind, and 1 tornado reports on May 17, 1997, compiled from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. The most recent was reported on May 17, 1997.

What was the largest hail reported on May 17, 1997?

The largest hail size in these storm-report records on May 17, 1997 is 4.50″, reported near E Paola, KS.

Some reports show UNK instead of a wind speed or tornado rating — what does that mean?

Wind reports come three ways: measured from an instrument, estimated from the damage observed, or UNK when no speed was recorded. Tornadoes show UNK until the National Weather Service finishes a damage survey and assigns an EF rating. UNK simply means that value was not available when the report was filed.

A report appeared near my home on May 17, 1997 — is my roof damaged?

Not necessarily. A storm report shows that hail, wind, or a tornado was observed nearby, not that any specific home was hit. To find out whether your property was affected, check an address-level hail report, and if it looks significant, ask a local pro about a Remote Hail Inspection before scheduling roof work.

I am buying or selling a home — how do these on May 17, 1997 reports help?

If a storm passed through, a roof or exterior may have damage that is hard to see, or a recent repair may trace back to it. Buyers can ask better questions before closing, and sellers can document the home condition up front — both starting from the property address rather than a whole region.

How do I check what happened at a specific address on May 17, 1997?

Use the address search to pull a free address-level hail report for any property — no phone number or email required. It shows recent hail activity for that address so you know whether a closer roof or exterior review makes sense.

Where does this storm report data come from, and what are its limits?

Storm reports on this page are public reports from storm events on May 17, 1997 across the United States, sourced from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. They show where hail, wind, or tornado activity was reported, but they do not confirm damage at any specific property. Report locations, sizes, and times may be approximate and can vary from what an individual home experienced. For property-specific hail history, use an address-level hail report or contact a participating local professional for a remote hail inspection. Pros inclusion is not an endorsement, and contacting a professional does not confirm damage at any property.

Free Hail Report By Address

Check Your Address in Seconds

Free hail report for any address in the contiguous U.S.

Get a Free Hail Report

100% free. No phone or email required.