Hail in Illinois, May 26, 2004

Name: Hail in Illinois, May 26, 2004
Start: 2004-05-26T12:51
End: 2004-05-26T12:55
Location: Illinois

May 26, 2004 · NWS LSX · 3 events in 1 county or zone

Storm spotters reported hail up to golfball size in Evansville with 1 inch hail in Ruma. Nickel size hail was reported southeast of Steelville near the Jackson County line.

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: 3

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.

Storm spotters reported hail up to golfball size in Evansville with 1 inch hail in Ruma. Nickel size hail was reported southeast of Steelville near the Jackson County line.

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 26, 10:05 AM CST, 2 hours 46 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 26, 10:05 AM CST, 2 hours 46 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1105 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

.DISCUSSION...
...FLOOD WATCH WILL BE ISSUED SHORTLY FOR SRN 2/3RDS OF THE CWA...
BUSY DAY ALREADY...AND THINK IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO.  RAINS FROM
YESTERDAY AND THIS MORNING HAVE SET UP THE ANTECEDENT CONDITIONS
NECESSARY FOR FLASH FLOODING IF ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL OCCURS.
CURRENT RADAR TRENDS ARE CONFIRMING THE IDEA OF THE RUC THAT TSRA
WILL CONTINUE TO TRAIN ALONG THE I-70 CORRIDOR INTO TONIGHT.  ALSO
WORRIED SEVERE WEATHER WILL ALSO BE A PROBLEM AGAIN AS MID LEVEL
DISTURBANCE MOVES ALONG E-W ORIENTED FRONT LATER THIS AFTERNOON.
PERSISTENT LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE ALONG AND NORTH OF FRONT...MUCAPES
>2,000 J/KG...AND >50KT 0-6KM SHEAR SUGGESTS ORGANIZED MULTICELLS
CLUSTERS AND SUPERCELLS ARE LIKELY TODAY AND THIS EVENING.

&&

.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.MO...FLOOD WATCH THIS AFTN AND TONIGHT FROM AUDRAIN AND PIKE
COUNTIES SWD.
.IL...FLOOD WATCH THIS AFTN AND TONIGHT FROM CALHOUN AND GREENE
COUNTIES SWD AND EWD.

BRITT/PEDIGO

CORRECTED DAY OF THE WEEK

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 26, 10:51 AM CST, 2 hours before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1151 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

ILZ095>097-MOZ018-019-026-027-034-035-271100-
ADAMS IL-BROWN-KNOX-LEWIS-MARION-MONROE-PIKE IL-RALLS-SHELBY-
1151 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST MISSOURI AND PART
OF CENTRAL MISSOURI...AS WELL AS WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND A PART
OF SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.
SOME STORMS MAY PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL...AND POSSIBLY A BRIEF PERIOD
OF PEA SIZE HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS...PARTICULARLY DURING
THE EVENING HOURS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY AFTERNOON
INTO THURSDAY EVENING AS A COLD FRONT MOVES SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE
REGION.  THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG THIS FRONT...A FEW MAY
BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL RESUME FRIDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUE
THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY WITH A GOOD CHANCE THAT SOME OF THESE STORMS
WILL BE SEVERE. DUE TO THE SERIOUS NATURE OF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND THE FACT THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE RECREATIONAL INTERESTS FOR THE
WEEKEND...YOU SHOULD KEEP ABREAST WITH LATEST FORECASTS AND
OTHER PRODUCTS ISSUED FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE THIS
WEEKEND.  A WEATHER RADIO OR INTERNET ACCESS IS RECOMMENDED

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION COULD BE WARRANTED FOR SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL
THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.

ILZ058>060-064-065-069-070-074-079-098>102-MOZ036-041-042-047>052-
059>065-072>075-084-085-099-271100-
AUDRAIN-BOND IL-BOONE-CALHOUN IL-CALLAWAY-CLINTON IL-COLE-CRAWFORD-
FAYETTE IL-FRANKLIN-GASCONADE-GREENE IL-IRON-JEFFERSON-JERSEY IL-
LINCOLN-MACOUPIN IL-MADISON-MADISON IL-MARION IL-MONITEAU-MONROE IL-
MONTGOMERY-MONTGOMERY IL-OSAGE-PIKE-RANDOLPH IL-REYNOLDS-ST CHARLES-
ST CLAIR IL-ST FRANCOIS-ST LOUIS-ST LOUIS CITY-STE GENEVIEVE-WARREN-
WASHINGTON-WASHINGTON IL-
1151 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND A PART
OF CENTRAL MISSOURI...AS WELL AS A PORTION OF SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON
AND THIS EVENING.  THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE
THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING IN HUMID AND UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE
NORTH OF A STATIONARY FRONT ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MISSOURI.  A
FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS. IN ADDITION CONDITIONS ARE SUCH THAT VERY HEAVY
RAINS COULD OCCUR AS WELL.  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN
EFFECT FOR MOST OF THE AREA THROUGH 200 PM THIS AFTERNOON.
A FLOOD WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
EARLY THURSDAY.  SEVERAL AREAS RECEIVED 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN
IN THE PAST 24 HOURS AND THE EAST TO WEST ORIENTATION OF STORMS
THAT MOVE THROUGH THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WILL
BRING ABOUT A SUBSTANTIAL THREAT FOR COPIOUS RAINS AND FLOODING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY AFTERNOON
INTO THURSDAY EVENING AS A COLD FRONT MOVES SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE
REGION.  THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG THIS FRONT...A FEW MAY
BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. HEAVY
RAIN COULD ALSO BE A THREAT.

THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE FRIDAY THROUGH MEMORIAL
DAY. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL ALSO LIKELY BE SEVERE...PARTICULARLY
SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT.  IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE OUTSIDE DURING
THE WEEKEND...THE SERIOUS NATURE OF THIS WEATHER PATTERN SHOULD
MAKE IT IMPERATIVE TO KEEP ABREAST OF LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND
POSSIBLE STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS FOR YOUR AREA. A WEATHER RADIO
OR INTERNET ACCESS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS RECOMMENDED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NECESSARY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
DUE TO SEVERE STORMS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FLASH FLOODING AS
WELL.

PEDIGO

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 26, 7:52 AM CST, 4 hours 59 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
852 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

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

0810 AM     HAIL             2 N META                38.34N 92.17W
05/26/2004  1.75 INCH        OSAGE              MO   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0815 AM     HAIL             4 SE GERALD             38.36N 91.28W
05/26/2004  0.75 INCH        FRANKLIN           MO   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0830 AM     HAIL             S JERSEYVILLE           39.12N 90.33W
05/26/2004  1.00 INCH        JERSEY             IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0835 AM     HAIL             UNION                   38.45N 91.01W
05/26/2004  0.88 INCH        FRANKLIN           MO   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0835 AM     HAIL             3 S WASHINGTON          38.51N 91.01W
05/26/2004  1.75 INCH        FRANKLIN           MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0845 AM     HAIL             BRIGHTON                39.04N 90.14W
05/26/2004  0.75 INCH        MACOUPIN           IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

CVKING

Local storm report, May 26, 7:52 AM CST, 4 hours 59 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
852 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

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

0810 AM     HAIL             2 N META                38.34N 92.17W
05/26/2004  1.75 INCH        OSAGE              MO   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0815 AM     HAIL             4 SE GERALD             38.36N 91.28W
05/26/2004  0.75 INCH        FRANKLIN           MO   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0830 AM     HAIL             S JERSEYVILLE           39.12N 90.33W
05/26/2004  1.00 INCH        JERSEY             IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0835 AM     HAIL             UNION                   38.45N 91.01W
05/26/2004  0.88 INCH        FRANKLIN           MO   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0835 AM     HAIL             3 S WASHINGTON          38.51N 91.01W
05/26/2004  1.75 INCH        FRANKLIN           MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0845 AM     HAIL             BRIGHTON                39.04N 90.14W
05/26/2004  0.75 INCH        MACOUPIN           IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

CVKING

Local storm report, May 26, 9:15 AM CST, 3 hours 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1015 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

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

0900 AM     HAIL             ELLISVILLE              38.59N 90.59W
05/26/2004  0.75 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MO   AMATEUR RADIO

            NORTHWEST OF INTERSECTION OF MANCHESTER AND CLARKSON
            ROADS.

0920 AM     HAIL             3 S LEBANON             38.56N 89.82W
05/26/2004  0.75 INCH        ST. CLAIR          IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

CVKING

Local storm report, May 26, 9:15 AM CST, 3 hours 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1015 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2004

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

0900 AM     HAIL             ELLISVILLE              38.59N 90.59W
05/26/2004  0.75 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MO   AMATEUR RADIO

            NORTHWEST OF INTERSECTION OF MANCHESTER AND CLARKSON
            ROADS.

0920 AM     HAIL             3 S LEBANON             38.56N 89.82W
05/26/2004  0.75 INCH        ST. CLAIR          IL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

CVKING

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 87 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:50 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Randolph

When: May 26, 12:51 PM CST
Where: Randolph County, Ruma
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.133, -90.000

Hail, Randolph

When: May 26, 12:52 PM CST
Where: Randolph County, Evansville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.083, -89.933

Hail, Randolph

When: May 26, 12:55 PM CST
Where: Randolph County, 5 mi SE of Steeleville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.950, -89.600

What these are

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

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: 5397184, 5397185, 5397186.