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NOAA/NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER STORM REPORTS

Hail, Wind & Tornado Reports on February 23, 1998

Public hail, wind, and tornado reports across the United States on February 23, 1998 from February 23, 1998 through February 23, 1998, 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 19, 2026.
Hail Reports
2
Wind Reports
3
Tornado Reports
7
Max Hail Size
1.75″
Source  NOAA SPC · NWS Local Storm Reports Coverage  United States · February 23, 1998 · 1998–present Updated  Daily · last Feb 23, 1998

NWS Hail Reports on February 23, 1998

2 reports
Free hail report for your home →
1.75″ hail
Feb 23, 1998
12:55 AM EST
Hail report for February 23, 1998
Orange County · 312,974 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 3 SW (Mco)Orlando Intl Ar, FL
0.88″ hail
Feb 23, 1998
12:20 AM EST
Hail report for February 23, 1998
Polk County · 203,501 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Nickel sized hail was observed in Polk City along State Road 33.
NWS Hail Report Location: Polk City, FL
Showing 2 of 2
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 February 23, 1998

3 reports
Free hail report + wind check →
UNK mph
Feb 23, 1998
1:30 PM PST
Wind report for February 23, 1998
Fresno County · 231,602 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: As a thunderstorm gust front swept through Fresno, trees and powerlines were downed. Over 18,000 electric utility customers went without power in the area and a tree was toppled onto a house near San Joaquin Memorial High School in north-Central Fresno beginning at 1:30 PM PST. With the thunderstorm activity some small hail was also reported...sizes less than 3/4" were reported at Selma in south-Central Fresno County near the same time. As a precursor to this event, gusty wind to 50 MPH was reported in the West Merced County area of Pacheco Pass at 1015 PST...but no damage was reported at that time in the area.
NWS Wind Report Location: 3 NNE (Fch) Chandler Af, CA
UNK mph
Feb 23, 1998
1:16 PM PST
Wind report for February 23, 1998
Madera County · 40,360 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Thunderstorm activity through Central California included the mountain area. An Oakhurst spotter in Eastern Madera County reported a TSTM with 50 MPH wind and locally heavy rain early in the afternoon of 2/23/98.
NWS Wind Report Location: Oakhurst, CA
UNK mph
Feb 23, 1998
12:00 AM EST
Wind report for February 23, 1998
Polk County · 203,501 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Thunderstorm winds downed several power poles along County Road 35A in Kathleen.
NWS Wind Report Location: Kathleen, FL
Showing 3 of 3
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 February 23, 1998

7 reports
F1 category
Feb 23, 1998
2:30 AM EST
Tornado report for February 23, 1998
Brevard County · 194,058 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: The final tornado of the outbreak was a waterspout/tornado that moved onshore at Port Canaveral from the Banana River Lagoon. The F1 tornado damaged 30 structures and lifted before reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Port Canaveral, FL
F1 category
Feb 23, 1998
1:38 AM EST
Tornado report for February 23, 1998
Brevard County · 194,058 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: The supercell that produced the Kissimmee / Orange County tornado produced another category F1 tornado that touched down in Brevard County just east of Interstate 95 three miles northwest of Titusville Cocoa Airport. The tornado moved northeast at 45 mph and stayed on the ground for only one mile. It blew down trees and damaged 4 houses.
NWS Tornado Report Location: 3 NE Titusville Ti Co Arp, FL
F3 category
Feb 23, 1998
12:55 AM EST
Tornado report for February 23, 1998
Orange County · 312,974 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: The Kissimmee tornado moved into Orange County southeast of Orlando International Airport as a category F3. The tornado affected rural swampy areas, striking few structures except for lakeside neighborhoods on the shores of Lake Hart and Lake Mary Jane. The tornado lifted as it approached the St. Johns River on the east central border of Orange County in the Tosohatchee State Preserve.
NWS Tornado Report Location: SE (Mco)Orlando Intl Ar, FL
F2 category
Feb 23, 1998
12:45 AM EST
Tornado report for February 23, 1998
Volusia County · 180,109 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: The same supercell that produced the Sanford tornado produced an F2 tornado that touched down just west of Interstate 95 about 5 miles west of Oak Hill. The tornado moved northeast at 45 mph blowing down trees destroying two barns and damaging 10 mobile homes and 2 houses. The tornado lifted at the town of Ariel at U.S. Highway 1.
NWS Tornado Report Location: W Oak Hill, FL
F3 category
Feb 23, 1998
12:40 AM EST
Tornado report for February 23, 1998
Osceola County · 98,513 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: The deadliest tornado of the outbreak was a category F3 that touched down initially one mile south of Intercession City. The tornado moved northeast at 45 mph and ripped through the town of Kissimmee killing 25 people. The hardest hit areas were the Morningside Acres mobile home community and the Ponderosa Recreational Vehicle Park. In all eight people were killed in recreational vehicles, fifteen in mobile homes and one in an automobile. The tornado continued northeast and moved into Orange County six miles north of St. Cloud. One hundred and fifty people were injured and over 1000 structures were damaged or destroyed.
NWS Tornado Report Location: SE Intercession City, FL
F3 category
Feb 23, 1998
12:25 AM EST
Tornado report for February 23, 1998
Volusia County · 180,109 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: The Sanford tornado crossed into Volusia County near Highway 46 and the St. Johns River where it killed a 53 year old man in a recreational vehicle at a fish camp. The tornado continued northeast for 2 miles and dissipated in a rural part of south Volusia County.
NWS Tornado Report Location: 4 S Osteen, FL
F3 category
Feb 23, 1998
12:10 AM EST
Tornado report for February 23, 1998
Seminole County · 121,347 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: The Seminole County category F3 tornado was produced by the same supercell that produced the Winter Garden tornado. It initially set down near Longwood and moved northeast at 45 mph. The tornado passed through several neighborhhoods in the southeast portion of Sanford killing 12 people in mobile homes and injuring 70. It continued northeast and crossed into Volusia County 5 miles east of Sanford. The near 200 mph winds of the tornado damaged or destroy 625 structures.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Longwood, FL
Showing 7 of 7
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 February 23, 1998 on the Interactive Map

Report type
Hail
Wind
Tornado

Get a Remote Hail Inspection

Not sure if hail may have affected your home on February 23, 1998? 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 February 23, 1998?

Our records show 2 hail, 3 wind, and 7 tornado reports on February 23, 1998, compiled from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. The most recent was reported on February 23, 1998.

What was the largest hail reported on February 23, 1998?

The largest hail size in these storm-report records on February 23, 1998 is 1.75″, reported near (Mco)Orlando Intl Ar, FL.

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 February 23, 1998 — 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 February 23, 1998 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 February 23, 1998?

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 February 23, 1998 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.

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