Damaging Winds in Illinois, May 25, 2004

Name: Damaging Winds in Illinois, May 25, 2004
Start: 2004-05-25T00:25
End: 2004-05-25T00:35
Location: Illinois

May 25, 2004 · NWS LSX · 5 events in 1 county or zone

A severe thunderstorm downed trees across Fayette County. Trees were down blocking streets in Shafter and Vandalia.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: 5

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 LSX wrote it up.

A severe thunderstorm downed trees across Fayette County. Trees were down blocking streets in Shafter and Vandalia. Trees were down in the west side of St. Elmo. Four large trees were blown down just west of Shobonier and in Shobonier. A mobile home in Shobonier also suffered considerable damage.

What forecasters said that day

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, 13 hours 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 24, 10:30 AM CST, 13 hours 55 minutes before

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, May 24, 7:40 PM CST, 4 hours 45 minutes before

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

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 24, 11:55 PM CST, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1255 AM CDT TUE MAY 25 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1230 AM     TSTM WND DMG     VIRDEN                  39.50N 89.77W
05/25/2004                   MACOUPIN           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE BLOWN ONTO HOUSE.

1230 AM     TSTM WND DMG     STAUNTON                39.01N 89.79W
05/25/2004                   MACOUPIN           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES AND POWER LINES BLOCKING ROUTE 4 IN STAUNTON.

&&

TRUETT

Local storm report, May 24, 11:55 PM CST, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1255 AM CDT TUE MAY 25 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1230 AM     TSTM WND DMG     VIRDEN                  39.50N 89.77W
05/25/2004                   MACOUPIN           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE BLOWN ONTO HOUSE.

1230 AM     TSTM WND DMG     STAUNTON                39.01N 89.79W
05/25/2004                   MACOUPIN           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES AND POWER LINES BLOCKING ROUTE 4 IN STAUNTON.

&&

TRUETT

Local storm report, May 25, 12:00 AM CST, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
100 AM CDT TUE MAY 25 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1200 AM     TSTM WND DMG     3 E JERSEYVILLE         39.12N 90.33W
05/25/2004                   JERSEY             IL   AIRPLANE PILOT

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON HIGHWAY 16.

1200 AM     TSTM WND DMG     KEMPER                  39.22N 90.17W
05/25/2004                   JERSEY             IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN.

1225 AM     TSTM WND DMG     WOOD RIVER              38.86N 90.08W
05/25/2004                   MADISON            IL   AMATEUR RADIO

            GARAGE DAMAGED BY HIGH WINDS...AND TREES BLOWN DOWN.

1230 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 W BALLWIN             38.59N 90.59W
05/25/2004                   ST. LOUIS          MO   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN.

&&

TRUETT

Local storm report, May 25, 12:00 AM CST, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
100 AM CDT TUE MAY 25 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1200 AM     TSTM WND DMG     3 E JERSEYVILLE         39.12N 90.33W
05/25/2004                   JERSEY             IL   AIRPLANE PILOT

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON HIGHWAY 16.

1200 AM     TSTM WND DMG     KEMPER                  39.22N 90.17W
05/25/2004                   JERSEY             IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN.

1225 AM     TSTM WND DMG     WOOD RIVER              38.86N 90.08W
05/25/2004                   MADISON            IL   AMATEUR RADIO

            GARAGE DAMAGED BY HIGH WINDS...AND TREES BLOWN DOWN.

1230 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 W BALLWIN             38.59N 90.59W
05/25/2004                   ST. LOUIS          MO   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN.

&&

TRUETT

Local storm report, May 25, 12:21 AM CST, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
121 AM CDT TUE MAY 25 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1205 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N MODESTO             39.49N 89.98W
05/25/2004                   MACOUPIN           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            16 POWER POLES DOWN AND POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS HIGHWAY
            111.

1255 AM     TSTM WND DMG     GREENVILLE              38.89N 89.40W
05/25/2004                   BOND               IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN ON NORTH SIDE OF TOWN, BLOCKING SEVERAL ROADS.

&&

TRUETT

Local storm report, May 25, 12:21 AM CST, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
121 AM CDT TUE MAY 25 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1205 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N MODESTO             39.49N 89.98W
05/25/2004                   MACOUPIN           IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            16 POWER POLES DOWN AND POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS HIGHWAY
            111.

1255 AM     TSTM WND DMG     GREENVILLE              38.89N 89.40W
05/25/2004                   BOND               IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN ON NORTH SIDE OF TOWN, BLOCKING SEVERAL ROADS.

&&

TRUETT

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fayette

When: May 25, 12:25 AM CST
Where: Fayette County, Shafter
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.017, -89.183

Thunderstorm Wind, Fayette

When: May 25, 12:28 AM CST
Where: Fayette County, 1 mi W of Shobonier
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 38.867, -89.100

Thunderstorm Wind, Fayette

When: May 25, 12:30 AM CST
Where: Fayette County, Vandalia
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.967, -89.100

Thunderstorm Wind, Fayette

When: May 25, 12:30 AM CST
Where: Fayette County, Shobonier
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 38.867, -89.083

Thunderstorm Wind, Fayette

When: May 25, 12:35 AM CST
Where: Fayette County, St Elmo
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.033, -88.850

What these are

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Illinois in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history Warnings in Illinois, May 2004

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: 5396924, 5396927, 5396925, 5396928, 5396926.