Florida, 1998

Tornadoes and Hail in Florida, May 4, 1998

May 4, 1998 · NWS MFL · 13 events in 4 counties and zones

and most of populated Dade County. Numerous locations reported pea sized hail with surface accumulations over one inch.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
13

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MFL wrote it up.

A cluster of severe thunderstorms moved southeast mainly over the southwest suburbs of Broward...and most of populated Dade County. Numerous locations reported pea sized hail with surface accumulations over one inch. Widespread power outages resulted from downed trees and powerlines.

The radar

The Miami radar (KAMX), 13 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:40 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail, 3 tornado, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Miami-Dade

When
May 4, 4:40 PM EST to 4:50 PM EST
Where
Miami-Dade County, Redland
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
10 yd
Coordinates
25.530, -80.500

Metro Dade police reported a brief touchdown near SW 154th Ave north of Quail Roost Dr. A storm spotter reported seeing three funnel clouds near Krome Ave/Quail Roost Dr.

Funnel Cloud, Broward

When
May 4, 5:30 PM EST to 5:50 PM EST
Where
Broward County, Andytown
Coordinates
26.152, -80.456 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Some tree limbs were downed near US 27 and I-595 with associated thunderstorm. Funnel was spotted farther south over davie at 1746 est.

Thunderstorm Wind, Broward

When
May 4, 5:50 PM EST to 6:05 PM EST
Where
Broward County, Hollywood
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
26.020, -80.150

A large tree was uprooted at Topeekegee Yugnee Park. Pea sized hail was reported in numerous locations around southern Broward County.

Thunderstorm Wind, Miami-Dade

When
May 4, 6:05 PM EST to 6:20 PM EST
Where
Miami-Dade County, Carol City
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
25.930, -80.270

Tree down at Krome Ave and Okeechobee Rd.

Tornado, Palm Beach

When
May 4, 6:05 PM EST
Where
Palm Beach County, Greenacres City
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
10 yd
Coordinates
26.630, -80.120

Brief touchdown with no damage reported by Palm Beach County sheriff. Possible Gustnado as convective cores where west of area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Miami-Dade

When
May 4, 6:28 PM EST
Where
Miami-Dade County, (Mia)miami Intl
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
25.800, -80.280

Hail, Miami-Dade

When
May 4, 6:40 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Miami-Dade County, Cutler Ridge
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
25.580, -80.330

From Saga Bay...also reported g47 knots and 1.17 inches of rainfall.

Hail, Miami-Dade

When
May 4, 6:44 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Miami-Dade County, Perrine
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
25.600, -80.350

Several trees were downed in the area.

Hail, Miami-Dade

When
May 4, 6:45 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Miami-Dade County, Cutler Ridge
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
25.580, -80.330

Also reported g50 knots.

Hail, Miami-Dade

When
May 4, 6:45 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Miami-Dade County, South Miami
Measured
2 in hail
Coordinates
25.700, -80.280

Hail one to two inches reported by NWS employee at US1 and SW 142nd St.

Tornado, Miami-Dade

When
May 4, 7:00 PM EST
Where
Miami-Dade County, Miami Beach
Rating
F0
Path length
0.2 mi
Path width
20 yd
Coordinates
25.800, -80.120

Brief touchdown of funnel cloud near Alton Rd/Dade Blvd reported by several witnesses to WFOR-TV. Powerlines downed and tree branches broken.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When
May 4, 8:00 PM EST to 8:30 PM EST
Where
Monroe County, Marathon
Measured
86 kt (99 mph)
Coordinates
24.700, -81.080

Reported by yacht in Looe Key harbor that 6 occupied boats were capsized with 2 boats being over 20 feet.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When
May 4, 8:00 PM EST to 8:30 PM EST
Where
Monroe County, Marathon
Measured
74 kt (85 mph)
Coordinates
24.700, -81.080

Radioed in by vessel off Sombrero Key.

What these are

Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Florida in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Florida, 1998Warnings in Florida, May 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5641397, 5641325, 5641326, 5641327, 5641394, 5641329, 5641331, 5641332, 5641391, 5641392, 5641393, 5641395, 5641396.