1 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS St. Louis, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 24, 10:30 AM CST, 11 hours 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO 1130 AM CDT MON MAY 24 2004 FRONT HAS SETTLED INTO THE OZARKS AS MODELS ADVERTIZED YESTERDAY. FRONT WILL LIFT NORTHWARD TODAY AND IS EXPECTED TO LIE ACROSS NORTH MO THIS EVENING. TRAILING COLD FRONT WILL PUSH ACROSS NORTHWEST MO LATE TONIGHT. LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE SLOWS THE FRONT DOWN ON WEDNESDAY WITH THE ETA PUSHING THE FRONT INTO NORTHERN AR WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE UPPER JET WAS LOCATED OVER THE CANADIAN MARITIMES THIS MORNING WITH A JET CORE OF 80 KTS OVER SOUTHERN AZ. SOUTHWESTERN U.S. JET WILL MIGRATE NORTHEASTWARD WITH THE ETA, GFS AND UKMET VERY SIMILAR TONIGHT AND TUESDAY WITH SIGNIFICANT DIVERGENCE FORECAST ACROSS THE REGION. THIS WILL ENHANCE THE LOW LEVEL FLOW WITH THE ETA FORECASTING TREEMENDOUS MOISTURE CONVERGENCE INTO NORTHEAST/EAST MO BY LATE EVENING. INGREDIENTS IN PLACE FOR A MCS TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND THEN ROLL SOUTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. THE WRF MODEL OUT OF NCAR IS FORECASTING A LARGE BOW ECHO ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL/NORTHWEST MO BY 00Z AND THEN REACHING THE STL METRO AREA LATE EVENING. THIS MOVEMENT IS A LITTLE FASTER THAN THE ETA RUN. THE SPC OUTLOOK LOOKS REASONABLE. THE GFS IS SIMILAR WITH SUNDAYS RUN WITH HUGE AREA OF 40 K INDEX ACROSS NORTHWEST MO BY THIS EVENING WITH THE ETA PLACING A SMALLER BULLSEYE ACROSS NORTHEAST KS/NORTHWEST MO. BY 06Z, ETA FORECASTS A BAND OF 40-45 KS ALONG I-70 CORRIDOR WHILE THE GFS MOVES THE CENTER INTO EASTERN IA/NORTHWEST IL. IN THE EXTENDED PERIOD OVER THE WEEKEND, THE 24/00Z RUNS OF THE GFS AND ECMWF ARE FAIRLY SIMILAR AT 500 AND THE SURFACE. CLOSED H5 LOW IS FORECAST OVER THE NORTHERN ROCKIES SATURDAY EVENING WITH A COLD FRONT FROM THE UPPER MIDWEST INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. BY SUNDAY EVENING, EXPECT THE COLD FRONT TO LIE ACROSS MO WITH BOTH MODELS FORECASTING THE UPPER LOW OVER THE DAKOTAS. && .LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... .MO...NONE .IL...NONE EFFECTIVE 7 AM JUNE 8 2004...THE AWIPS PRODUCT IDENTIFIER FOR THIS PRODUCT WILL CHANGE FROM AFDSTL TO AFDLSX. THE WMO HEADER WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED. PLEASE ENSURE THAT ANY NEEDED CHANGES ARE COMPLETED BY JUNE 8 2004.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO 840 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2004 ILZ058-059-095>100-MOZ018-019-026-027-034>036-041-042-047>052- 059>064-251100- ADAMS IL-AUDRAIN-BOONE-BROWN-CALHOUN IL-CALLAWAY-COLE-FRANKLIN- GASCONADE-GREENE IL-JERSEY IL-KNOX-LEWIS-LINCOLN-MACOUPIN IL- MADISON IL-MARION-MONITEAU-MONROE-MONTGOMERY-OSAGE-PIKE-PIKE IL- RALLS-SHELBY-ST CHARLES-ST LOUIS-ST LOUIS CITY-WARREN- 840 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST AND CENTRAL MISSOURI AND WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. THE HIGH RISK AREA IS NORTH AND WEST OF A LINE FROM OWENSVILLE....ST. LOUIS... LITCHFIELD LINE. INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE THREATENING NORTHEAST MISSOURI AND WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...INCLUDING THE QUINCY AND HANNIBAL AREAS...THIS EVENING. AS THE NIGHT PROGRESSES...ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT WILL OCCUR OVER WESTERN MISSOURI...AND THESE STORMS WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE HIGH RISK AREA. DUE TO THE WINDS OVER THE REGION...AND THE EXTREMELY UNSTABLE AIR FUELING THESE STORMS...TORNADOES...VERY LARGE HAIL...AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS WILL BE A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY. HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE...SO A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA AS WELL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN ON TUESDAY AS THE FRONT BECOMES STATIONARY ACROSS THE AREA. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THIS IS A DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION. SPOTTER ACTIVATION HAS ALREADY OCCURRED OVER PARTS OF NORTHEAST...CENTRAL...AND EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI AND WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...AND ADDITIONAL ACTIVATION IS VERY POSSIBLE ALONG THE INTERSTATE 70 CORRIDOR LATER TONIGHT. ILZ060-064-065-069-070-074-101-102-MOZ065-251100- BOND IL-CLINTON IL-FAYETTE IL-JEFFERSON-MARION IL-MONROE IL- MONTGOMERY IL-ST CLAIR IL-WASHINGTON IL- 840 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2004 .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE REMAINDER OF TONIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE WEATHER WILL REMAIN TRANQUIL THIS EVENING...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO SWEEP ACROSS THE REGION DURING THE PREDAWN HOURS. WINDS ACROSS THE REGION...AS WELL AS THE UNSTABLE AIR FUELING THE STORMS...WILL MAKE TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY. IN ADDITION...HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE...SO A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA AS WELL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AS THE FRONT OSCILLATES ACROSS THE AREA. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD... THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY LATE TONIGHT. ILZ079-MOZ072>075-084-085-099-251100- CRAWFORD-IRON-MADISON-RANDOLPH IL-REYNOLDS-ST FRANCOIS-STE GENEVIEVE- WASHINGTON- 840 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2004 .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE REMAINDER OF TONIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE WEATHER WILL REMAIN TRANQUIL THIS EVENING...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO SWEEP ACROSS THE REGION DURING THE PREDAWN HOURS. WINDS ACROSS THE REGION...AS WELL AS THE UNSTABLE AIR FUELING THE STORMS...WILL MAKE TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AS THE FRONT OSCILLATES ACROSS THE AREA. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD... THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY LATE TONIGHT. TRUETT
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1042 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1015 PM TSTM WND DMG QUINCY 39.93N 91.39W
05/24/2004 ADAMS IL LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWNED THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF
QUINCY.
&&
TRUETTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1042 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1015 PM TSTM WND DMG QUINCY 39.93N 91.39W
05/24/2004 ADAMS IL LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWNED THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF
QUINCY.
&&
TRUETTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1050 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1015 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 NE PHILADELPHIA 39.86N 91.71W
05/24/2004 MARION MO AIRPLANE PILOT
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE
1015 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SE EWING 39.99N 91.69W
05/24/2004 LEWIS MO LAW ENFORCEMENT
POWER LINES DOWNED.
1015 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 2 SE EWING 39.99N 91.69W
05/24/2004 LEWIS MO LAW ENFORCEMENT
1036 PM TORNADO RENSSELAER 39.67N 91.55W
05/24/2004 RALLS MO AMATEUR RADIO
&&
TRUETTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1050 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1015 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 NE PHILADELPHIA 39.86N 91.71W
05/24/2004 MARION MO AIRPLANE PILOT
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE
1015 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SE EWING 39.99N 91.69W
05/24/2004 LEWIS MO LAW ENFORCEMENT
POWER LINES DOWNED.
1015 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 2 SE EWING 39.99N 91.69W
05/24/2004 LEWIS MO LAW ENFORCEMENT
1036 PM TORNADO RENSSELAER 39.67N 91.55W
05/24/2004 RALLS MO AMATEUR RADIO
&&
TRUETTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1053 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1035 PM HAIL PARIS 39.48N 92.00W
05/24/2004 1.00 INCH MONROE MO TRAINED SPOTTER
1035 PM TSTM WND DMG PARIS 39.48N 92.00W
05/24/2004 MONROE MO TRAINED SPOTTER
TREES DOWN ACROSS MULBERRY ST.
&&
TRUETTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1053 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1035 PM HAIL PARIS 39.48N 92.00W
05/24/2004 1.00 INCH MONROE MO TRAINED SPOTTER
1035 PM TSTM WND DMG PARIS 39.48N 92.00W
05/24/2004 MONROE MO TRAINED SPOTTER
TREES DOWN ACROSS MULBERRY ST.
&&
TRUETTThe St Louis radar (KLSX), 102 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:02 UTC.
1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A small tornado flattened corn and damaged trees just west and east of Highway 96 north of Rockport.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Illinois, 2004Warnings in Illinois, May 2004
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: 5396820.