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The severe wind outbreak of July 21, 2003

405 wind reportsPennsylvania, Indiana, New York and 20 more states

405 damaging wind reports across 23 states between 1:00 AM and 12:59 AM the next day CDT, 15 of them 65 knots (75 mph) or stronger. 97 hail reports and 26 tornadoes the same day.

Watch the day unfold

Severe wind day · July 21, 2003

How the day unfolded

Every damaging wind report of the day at its logged time, with the day's hail reports and tornadoes, and the counties they reached.

About this replay
Central time—Historical replay — logged report times
Wind reports—of 405 that day
Strongest gust—measured, so far
Largest hail—so far

The day in numbers

Wind reports
405
75th of 15,807 days with wind reports since 1955
75 mph or more
15
6 of 86 mph (75 knots) or more
Strongest measured gust
—
No measured gust reported
Measured
0
reports with an instrument reading; the rest are estimates from damage
Killed by wind
0
11 injured
Counties reporting
301
in 23 states

Hour by hour

Damaging wind reports in each hour, Central Daylight Time.

Wind reports per hour, July 21, 2003 1 AM: 16 2 AM: 8 3 AM: 4 4 AM: 13 5 AM: 23 6 AM: 21 7 AM: 17 8 AM: 7 9 AM: 4 10 AM: 0 11 AM: 1 Noon: 11 1 PM: 29 2 PM: 36 3 PM: 36 4 PM: 37 5 PM: 38 38 6 PM: 38 7 PM: 25 8 PM: 22 9 PM: 10 10 PM: 2 11 PM: 1 Midnight: 6 1 AM4 AM7 AM10 AM1 PM4 PM7 PM10 PM

The strongest winds

The 100 strongest reports with a speed. Measured gusts come from an instrument; estimated speeds are judged from damage.

Strongest wind reports, July 21, 2003
9:45 PMWindsor County VT115 mph100Estimated0
1:00 AMHenry County IL92 mph80Estimated0
6:00 PMDelaware County NY92 mph80Estimated0
3:35 PMSteuben County NY86 mph75Estimated0
7:00 PMUlster County NY86 mph75Estimated0
7:15 PMDutchess County NY86 mph75Estimated0
2:26 PMColbert County AL81 mph70Estimated0
2:30 PMColbert County AL81 mph70Estimated0
7:35 PMChase County NE81 mph70Estimated0
9:00 PMDauphin County PA81 mph70Estimated0
1:22 AMLee County IL75 mph65Estimated0
1:32 PMMercer County PA75 mph65Estimated0
2:00 PMDavidson County TN75 mph65Estimated0
3:00 PMDanville VA75 mph65Estimated0
7:35 PMChase County NE75 mph65Estimated0
3:45 PMChemung County NY71 mph62Estimated0
1:45 PMVenango County PA70 mph61Estimated0
6:47 PMNoble County OK70 mph61Estimated0
6:50 PMNoble County OK70 mph61Estimated0
8:35 PMMontgomery County PA70 mph61Estimated0
9:05 PMTrego County KS70 mph61Estimated0
9:10 PMNess County KS70 mph61Estimated0
10:55 PMRussell County KS70 mph61Estimated0
12:29 AMSedgwick County KS70 mph61Estimated0
12:50 AMSedgwick County KS70 mph61Estimated0
12:55 AMSedgwick County KS70 mph61Estimated0
1:04 AMKnox County IL69 mph60Estimated0
1:10 AMStark County IL69 mph60Estimated0
1:30 AMPeoria County IL69 mph60Estimated0
1:55 AMTazewell County IL69 mph60Estimated0
2:20 AMMcLean County IL69 mph60Estimated0
4:00 AMWarren County IN69 mph60Estimated0
4:10 AMTippecanoe County IN69 mph60Estimated0
4:20 AMMontgomery County IN69 mph60Estimated0
4:21 AMFountain County IN69 mph60Estimated0
4:25 AMFountain County IN69 mph60Estimated0
4:25 AMFountain County IN69 mph60Estimated0
4:30 AMBoone County IN69 mph60Estimated0
4:35 AMHoward County IN69 mph60Estimated0
4:40 AMPutnam County IN69 mph60Estimated0
4:50 AMVigo County IN69 mph60Estimated0
4:55 AMVermillion County IN69 mph60Estimated0
5:00 AMClinton County IN69 mph60Estimated0
6:30 AMWashington County IN69 mph60Estimated0
6:50 AMJefferson County IN69 mph60Estimated0
7:12 AMDubois County IN69 mph60Estimated0
11:30 AMCarroll County TN69 mph60Estimated0
12:05 PMOhio County KY69 mph60Estimated0
12:40 PMEdmonson County KY69 mph60Estimated0
12:45 PMButler County KY69 mph60Estimated0
1:20 PMBell County KY69 mph60Estimated0
1:20 PMBell County KY69 mph60Estimated0
1:30 PMWayne County TN69 mph60Estimated0
1:30 PMDelaware County NY69 mph60Estimated0
1:50 PMWarren County KY69 mph60Estimated0
2:00 PMSimpson County KY69 mph60Estimated0
2:00 PMLogan County KY69 mph60Estimated0
2:05 PMDavidson County TN69 mph60Estimated0
2:15 PMWarren County PA69 mph60Estimated0
2:16 PMTrousdale County TN69 mph60Estimated0
2:17 PMSchoharie County NY69 mph60Estimated0
2:45 PMMacon County TN69 mph60Estimated0
2:45 PMLauderdale County AL69 mph60Estimated0
2:46 PMGreene County NY69 mph60Estimated0
2:50 PMBarren County KY69 mph60Estimated0
2:50 PMColbert County AL69 mph60Estimated0
2:55 PMMonroe County KY69 mph60Estimated0
3:00 PMSchenectady County NY69 mph60Estimated0
3:11 PMAlbany County NY69 mph60Estimated0
3:12 PMFranklin County AL69 mph60Estimated0
3:15 PMSt. Clair County MI69 mph60Estimated0
3:25 PMSaratoga County NY69 mph60Estimated0
3:30 PMCannon County TN69 mph60Estimated0
3:30 PMWashington County NY69 mph60Estimated0
3:30 PMWashington County NY69 mph60Estimated0
3:41 PMRensselaer County NY69 mph60Estimated0
3:45 PMAnson County NC69 mph60Estimated0
3:45 PMMorgan County AL69 mph60Estimated0
3:45 PMMadison County AL69 mph60Estimated0
4:05 PMSchuyler County NY69 mph60Estimated0
4:15 PMUnion County PA69 mph60Estimated0
4:15 PMTompkins County NY69 mph60Estimated0
4:20 PMBradford County PA69 mph60Estimated0
4:30 PMMonroe County MS69 mph60Estimated0
4:35 PMMeigs County TN69 mph60Estimated0
4:40 PMTioga County NY69 mph60Estimated0
4:45 PMBroome County NY69 mph60Estimated0
4:55 PMWyoming County PA69 mph60Estimated0
5:10 PMSusquehanna County PA69 mph60Estimated0
5:10 PMLackawanna County PA69 mph60Estimated0
5:30 PMWayne County PA69 mph60Estimated0
5:35 PMChenango County NY69 mph60Estimated0
5:55 PMSullivan County NY69 mph60Estimated0
6:05 PMDutchess County NY69 mph60Estimated0
6:47 PMAdams County PA69 mph60Estimated0
7:00 PMYork County SC69 mph60Estimated0
7:00 PMSchoharie County NY69 mph60Estimated0
7:16 PMAlbany County NY69 mph60Estimated0
7:20 PMUlster County NY69 mph60Estimated0
7:25 PMColumbia County NY69 mph60Estimated0

By state

Severe weather reports by state, July 21, 2003
Pennsylvania82—41.75
Indiana57—41.75
New York40—11.75
Ohio38—10.75
Alabama28—80.88
Tennessee28—0—
Illinois22—30.88
Kentucky18—102.00
South Carolina16—10.75
Mississippi13—0—
Kansas10—61.75
North Carolina10—51.00
Michigan9—111.75
Georgia7—30.75
Massachusetts7—0—
Vermont4—0—
Nebraska3—244.00
Oklahoma3—10.75
New Jersey3—0—
Arkansas2—10.75
Virginia2—10.75
Maryland2—0—
Connecticut1—0—
Missouri0—81.75
Florida0—41.00
Arizona0—11.25

Counties with the most wind reports

Hail and tornadoes that day

97 hail reports, 6 of 2 inches or more; 26 tornadoes.

Largest hail, July 21, 2003
5:20 PMKeith County NE4.00
5:05 PMKeith County NE2.75
5:40 PMKeith County NE2.75
6:45 PMCherry County NE2.50
1:00 PMChristian County KY2.00
5:16 PMKeith County NE2.00
1:31 AMJasper County IN1.75
10:10 AMDaviess County KY1.75
12:13 PMLoup County NE1.75
12:42 PMButler County KY1.75
4:15 PMSt. Clair County MI1.75
5:40 PMGrant County NE1.75
5:55 PMPerkins County NE1.75
6:00 PMArthur County NE1.75
6:13 PMPerkins County NE1.75
6:13 PMChase County NE1.75
6:35 PMChase County NE1.75
6:36 PMGrant County NE1.75
6:50 PMChase County NE1.75
7:30 PMArthur County NE1.75
8:30 PMColumbia County NY1.75
9:35 PMMontgomery County PA1.75
11:20 PMCrawford County KS1.75
11:20 PMCherokee County KS1.75
12:26 AMBarry County MO1.75
3:55 PMCalhoun County MI1.50
7:15 PMMcPherson County NE1.50
6:00 PMGila County AZ1.25
7:10 PMArthur County NE1.25
2:15 AMEaton County MI1.00
9:10 AMLuce County MI1.00
11:30 AMHenry County IN1.00
1:30 PMChristian County KY1.00
2:45 PMPike County KY1.00
3:55 PMLapeer County MI1.00
5:00 PMKeith County NE1.00
5:00 PMMacomb County MI1.00
5:45 PMMississippi County MO1.00
6:00 PMVolusia County FL1.00
6:13 PMArthur County NE1.00
6:15 PMMississippi County MO1.00
6:47 PMCleveland County NC1.00
6:53 PMGrant County NE1.00
8:49 PMBerks County PA1.00
12:07 AMNewton County MO1.00
12:15 AMLawrence County MO1.00
1:04 AMJasper County IN0.88
1:17 AMHenry County IL0.88
1:20 PMMobile County AL0.88
4:56 PMSt. Johns County FL0.88
  • F0 tornado3:15 AM CDT
  • F0 tornado4:00 AM CDT
  • F0 tornado5:00 AM CDT
  • F1 tornado12:45 PM CDT
  • F0 tornado1:25 PM CDT
  • F1 tornado2:15 PM CDT
  • F3 tornado3:00 PM CDT
  • F1 tornado4:00 PM CDT
  • F1 tornado4:30 PM CDT
  • F0 tornado5:38 PM CDT
  • F1 tornado6:20 PM CDT
  • F1 tornado7:14 PM CDT
  • F2 tornado7:23 PM CDT
  • F1 tornado7:24 PM CDT
  • F1 tornado7:30 PM CDT
  • F1 tornado7:32 PM CDT
  • F0 tornado7:35 PM CDT
  • F0 tornado7:38 PM CDT
  • F0 tornado7:40 PM CDT
  • F0 tornado7:40 PM CDT
  • F2 tornado7:43 PM CDT
  • F1 tornado7:45 PM CDT
  • F0 tornado7:53 PM CDT
  • F1 tornado8:20 PM CDT
  • F0 tornado8:30 PM CDT
  • F1 tornado8:56 PM CDT

2003 · On this date in other years · The biggest severe wind days

  1. A report is a single damage or measurement report to the National Weather Service. Several reports can describe one gust front, so reports are not storms.
  2. Reporting has grown with population, spotter networks and the internet, so counts from different decades are not directly comparable.
  3. Thunderstorm wind reports start at 50 knots (58 mph). SPC began flagging measured against estimated speeds in 2006; earlier reports are shown as estimated.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1955 to 2025. A day is SPC’s calendar date in Central Standard Time; a severe wind day here has 300 or more damaging wind reports, or 15 or more of 75 knots (86 mph) or more.