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NOAA/NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER STORM REPORTS

Hail, Wind & Tornado Reports on May 20, 1998

Public hail, wind, and tornado reports across the United States on May 20, 1998 from May 20, 1998 through May 20, 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 18, 2026.
Hail Reports
102
Wind Reports
106
Tornado Reports
5
Max Hail Size
3.50″
Source  NOAA SPC · NWS Local Storm Reports Coverage  United States · May 20, 1998 · 1998–present Updated  Daily · last May 20, 1998

NWS Hail Reports on May 20, 1998

102 reports
Free hail report for your home →
0.75″ hail
May 20, 1998
11:30 PM EST
Hail report for May 20, 1998
Rowan County · 6,268 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 2 NW Morehead, KY
0.75″ hail
May 20, 1998
9:00 PM MST
Hail report for May 20, 1998
Deuel County · 913 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 10 NE Chappell, NE
1.75″ hail
May 20, 1998
8:40 PM MST
Hail report for May 20, 1998
Deuel County · 913 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 14 NE Chappell, NE
0.88″ hail
May 20, 1998
9:35 PM CST
Hail report for May 20, 1998
Cherry County · 2,397 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 4 NNW Valentine, NE
1.00″ hail
May 20, 1998
10:30 PM EST
Hail report for May 20, 1998
Bullitt County · 26,475 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Quarter size hail reported by National Weather Service employee.
NWS Hail Report Location: Mt Washington, KY
1.00″ hail
May 20, 1998
8:20 PM MST
Hail report for May 20, 1998
Garden County · 1,041 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 8 W Oshkosh, NE
0.75″ hail
May 20, 1998
10:15 PM EST
Hail report for May 20, 1998
Greene County · 52,048 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Bellbrook, OH
0.75″ hail
May 20, 1998
8:00 PM MST
Hail report for May 20, 1998
Garden County · 1,041 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 12 S Oshkosh, NE
0.75″ hail
May 20, 1998
7:58 PM MST
Hail report for May 20, 1998
Yuma County · 3,428 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 2 E Yuma, CO
2.75″ hail
May 20, 1998
7:45 PM MST
Hail report for May 20, 1998
Cheyenne County · 3,769 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: A storm produced baseball size hail 6 miles northeast of Gurley.
NWS Hail Report Location: 6 NE Gurley, NE
1.50″ hail
May 20, 1998
7:35 PM MST
Hail report for May 20, 1998
Yuma County · 3,428 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 6 SSW Yuma, CO
1.75″ hail
May 20, 1998
7:15 PM MST
Hail report for May 20, 1998
Yuma County · 3,428 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 20 SSE Yuma, CO
1.00″ hail
May 20, 1998
7:00 PM MST
Hail report for May 20, 1998
Cheyenne County · 3,769 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: A storm produced quarter size hail 6 miles east of Dalton. The hail fell for 50 minutes and caused considerable crop damage.
NWS Hail Report Location: 6 E Dalton, NE
1.25″ hail
May 20, 1998
7:00 PM MST
Hail report for May 20, 1998
Yuma County · 3,428 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 19 S Yuma, CO
2.75″ hail
May 20, 1998
6:44 PM MST
Hail report for May 20, 1998
Morrill County · 1,984 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: A storm produced baseball size hail 8 miles southwest of Bridgeport.
NWS Hail Report Location: 8 SW Bridgeport, NE
Showing 15 of 102
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 20, 1998

106 reports
Free hail report + wind check →
58 mph
May 20, 1998
11:39 PM EST
Wind report for May 20, 1998
Pike County · 8,094 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Trees downed.
NWS Wind Report Location: Latham, OH
69 mph
May 20, 1998
9:55 PM EST
Wind report for May 20, 1998
Montgomery County · 170,142 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Trees and power lines downed. Also, a wooden baseball dugout was completely destroyed.
NWS Wind Report Location: Kettering, OH
60 mph
May 20, 1998
7:30 PM MST
Wind report for May 20, 1998
Lincoln County · 8,409 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Wind blew many trees down causing power outages in Yaak.
NWS Wind Report Location: Yaak, MT
60 mph
May 20, 1998
7:00 PM MST
Wind report for May 20, 1998
Lincoln County · 8,409 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Troy, MT
UNK mph
May 20, 1998
8:35 PM EST
Wind report for May 20, 1998
McDowell County · 6,596 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Several trees were blown down.
NWS Wind Report Location: Raysal, WV
UNK mph
May 20, 1998
8:05 PM EST
Wind report for May 20, 1998
Mingo County · 6,607 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Trees fell across Route 52.
NWS Wind Report Location: Varney, WV
UNK mph
May 20, 1998
8:00 PM EST
Wind report for May 20, 1998
Buchanan County · 6,520 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: The county sheriff reported several trees were blown down.
NWS Wind Report Location: Grundy, VA
UNK mph
May 20, 1998
7:45 PM EST
Wind report for May 20, 1998
Wise County · 10,794 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Appalachia, VA
UNK mph
May 20, 1998
7:40 PM EST
Wind report for May 20, 1998
Wise County · 10,794 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Exeter, VA
60 mph
May 20, 1998
5:35 PM MST
Wind report for May 20, 1998
Flathead County · 37,000 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Marion, MT
UNK mph
May 20, 1998
7:30 PM EST
Wind report for May 20, 1998
Pike County · 15,856 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Trees were downed.
NWS Wind Report Location: Pikeville, KY
UNK mph
May 20, 1998
7:10 PM EST
Wind report for May 20, 1998
Letcher County · 6,795 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Trees and power lines were downed across the county.
NWS Wind Report Location: Whitesburg, KY
UNK mph
May 20, 1998
7:10 PM EST
Wind report for May 20, 1998
Johnson County · 6,271 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Trees were downed.
NWS Wind Report Location: 3 SW Paintsville, KY
UNK mph
May 20, 1998
7:00 PM EST
Wind report for May 20, 1998
Magoffin County · 2,745 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Trees were downed.
NWS Wind Report Location: 7 NW Salyersville, KY
UNK mph
May 20, 1998
6:35 PM EST
Wind report for May 20, 1998
Wolfe County · 1,834 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Trees were downed.
NWS Wind Report Location: Rogers, KY
Showing 15 of 106
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 20, 1998

5 reports
F1 category
May 20, 1998
5:58 PM MST
Tornado report for May 20, 1998
Morrill County · 1,984 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: Area law enforcement reported a brief tornado 11 miles southeast of Bridgeport.
NWS Tornado Report Location: SSE Bridgeport, NE
F0 category
May 20, 1998
7:30 PM EST
Tornado report for May 20, 1998
Pike County · 15,856 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: A small tornado downed trees and damaged the roof of a house.
NWS Tornado Report Location: 2 N Kimper, KY
F0 category
May 20, 1998
3:35 PM MST
Tornado report for May 20, 1998
Fall River County · 2,923 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: 7 NW Edgemont, SD
F0 category
May 20, 1998
2:25 PM MST
Tornado report for May 20, 1998
Niobrara County · 1,037 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: A brief tornado was reported by local area law enforcement, 50 miles north of Lusk.
NWS Tornado Report Location: N Lusk, WY
F0 category
May 20, 1998
2:20 PM MST
Tornado report for May 20, 1998
Weston County · 2,513 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: 1 S Morrisey, WY
Showing 5 of 5
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 20, 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 May 20, 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 May 20, 1998?

Our records show 102 hail, 106 wind, and 5 tornado reports on May 20, 1998, compiled from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. The most recent was reported on May 20, 1998.

What was the largest hail reported on May 20, 1998?

The largest hail size in these storm-report records on May 20, 1998 is 3.50″, reported near Flush, 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 20, 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 May 20, 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 May 20, 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 May 20, 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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