Hail and Damaging Winds in Missouri, July 5, 2004

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Missouri, July 5, 2004
Start: 2004-07-05T20:05
End: 2004-07-05T20:15
Location: Missouri

July 5, 2004 · NWS LSX · 9 events in 1 county or zone

The third in a series of severe thunderstorms pounded west and central St. Louis County.

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: 9

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.

The third in a series of severe thunderstorms pounded west and central St. Louis County. Wind gusts estimated at 70 mph downed numerous trees and power lines. At least 200,000 people lost power due to the evening storms. Many areas did not get power restored for several days.

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 Jul 5, 3:40 PM CST, 4 hours 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 5, 3:40 PM CST, 4 hours 25 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
440 PM CDT MON JUL 5 2004

.DISCUSSION...
AREA RMNS IN THE WAITING MODE FOR THE NXT ROUND OF CNVTN WITH MANY
PARAMETERS FAVORING REDVLPMT OF TSRA ERY THIS EVE.  OF IMMEDIATE
CONCERN IS OUTFLO BNDRY FROM THIS MRNGS CNVTN...WHICH HAS BCM QSTNRY
NR POF WHILE W EDGE HAS PUSHED NE TO BTWN KCOU-KSTL.  AMS ALG/S OF
BNDRY XTRMLY UNSTBL WITH SFC BASED CAPES OF NR 5000 VCNTY SW MO. WRM
MID LVL TEMPS INDICATED ON 18Z KSGF SNDG APRS TO BE KPG SFC-BASED
ACTIVITY IN CHECK SO FAR...HWVR SINCE 2020Z CNVTN APRS TO BE
INCRG/PERHAPS BCMG SFC BASED N AND JUST NE OF KJLN.  BLV ARCH OF
SHTWV WL CONT TO COOL MID LVLS...AND EXPECT CNVTN TO DVLP/EXPAND NWD
INTO NE MO OVR NXT FEW HRS.  TORNADO WATCH JUST ISSUED FOR MUCH OF
CWFA TIL 03Z.

THIS EVES CNVTN WL MV E DURG THE EVE AND GRDL PUSH E OF FA BY
06Z...GIVING AREA A BIT OF A LULL.  HWVR...MCS EXPECTED TO DVLP OVR
PLAINS OVRNGT WL ALSO BE PUSHING E...AND SHUD SPREAD TSRA BACK ACR FA
DURG THE MRNG/ERY AFTN ON TUE.  PCPN SHUD THEN SWEEP OUT OF SE
SECTIONS OF FA ON TUE EVE AS WK CDFNT PUSHES THRU.  GOING FCSTS HAS
A GD HNDL ON THIS...SO ONLY MINOR CHGS RQRD FOR TUE/TUE NGT.

NWP OUTPUT SUGGESTING THE NXT THRT OF PCPN WL BE ELEVATED CNVTN WED
NGT/THU AS RETURN FLO PROVIDES ISENTROPIC LFT FOR NWD RBND OF
UNSTBL AMS.  SINCE 12Z RUNS WERE FIRST TO PICK UP ON THIS...WL KP
POPS AOB 20 ATTM AND LET MID SHIFT CHECK OUT 00Z RUNS TO SEE IF THIS
TREND CONTS.

HARD TO GET TOO SPECIFIC WITH TEMPS TRENDS OVR NXT 24 HRS DUE TO
IMPACT OF CNVTN.  GOING VALUES STILL LK TO BE A GD FIRST
APPROXIMATION...SO ONLY MINOR CHGS RQRD.

IN THE LONG TERM...AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF SUMMERTIME HEAT AND
HUMIDITY APR TO BE IN THE OFFING AS UPR RDG BUILDS OVR S HLF OF
COUNTRY.

&&

.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.MO...TORNADO WATCH RUFLY ALG-N OF KVIH-KSUS TIL 03Z.
.IL...TORNADO WATCH RUFLY ALG-N OF KBLV-KTAZ TIL 03Z.

&&

TRUETT

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 5, 3:30 PM CST, 4 hours 35 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
430 PM CDT MON JUL 5 2004

ILZ058>060-064-065-069-070-074-079-095>102-MOZ018-019-026-027-
034>036-041-042-047>052-059>065-072>075-084-085-099-061100-
ADAMS IL-AUDRAIN-BOND IL-BOONE-BROWN-CALHOUN IL-CALLAWAY-CLINTON IL-
COLE-CRAWFORD-FAYETTE IL-FRANKLIN-GASCONADE-GREENE IL-IRON-JEFFERSON-
JERSEY IL-KNOX-LEWIS-LINCOLN-MACOUPIN IL-MADISON-MADISON IL-MARION-
MARION IL-MONITEAU-MONROE-MONROE IL-MONTGOMERY-MONTGOMERY IL-OSAGE-
PIKE-PIKE IL-RALLS-RANDOLPH IL-REYNOLDS-SHELBY-ST CHARLES-
ST CLAIR IL-ST FRANCOIS-ST LOUIS-ST LOUIS CITY-STE GENEVIEVE-WARREN-
WASHINGTON-WASHINGTON IL-
430 PM CDT MON JUL 5 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PARTS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN
MISSOURI AS WELL AS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS.

.DAY ONE...THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING
AND TONIGHT.  THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI
AND WILL MOVE INTO CENTRAL AND EASTERN MISSOURI THIS
EVENING...AND FURTHER INTO SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS
TONIGHT.  THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE
DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.  HOWEVER...BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME
INSTABILITY OF THE ATMOSPHERE...BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWNS WILL ALSO
BE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO REDEVELOP ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON AHEAD OF
A COLD FRONT WHICH WILL PASS THROUGH THE AREA TUESDAY EVENING OR
OVERNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT.  SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE WITH
DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.  AFTER THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH
WE CAN EXPECT A BREAK IN THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY THROUGH THE END
OF THE WORK WEEK.  THE CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN FOR
LATE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AS HUMID AND UNSTABLE AIR RETURNS TO THE
AREA.

.SPOTTER ACTIVATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT.

CARNEY

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 5, 7:46 PM CST, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
846 PM CDT MON JUL 05 2004

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

0840 PM     HAIL             VALLEY PARK             38.55N 90.48W
07/05/2004  1.00 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            1 INCH HAIL AT VALLEY PARK

&&

PRZYBYLINSKI

Local storm report, Jul 5, 7:49 PM CST, 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
849 PM CDT MON JUL 05 2004

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

0826 PM     HAIL             KIRKWOOD                38.58N 90.42W
07/05/2004  0.75 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MO   AMATEUR RADIO

            DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED NEAR BIG BEND AND I 270

&&

PRZYBYLINSKI

Local storm report, Jul 5, 7:49 PM CST, 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
849 PM CDT MON JUL 05 2004

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

0826 PM     HAIL             KIRKWOOD                38.58N 90.42W
07/05/2004  0.75 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MO   AMATEUR RADIO

            DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED NEAR BIG BEND AND I 270

&&

PRZYBYLINSKI

Local storm report, Jul 5, 7:54 PM CST, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
854 PM CDT MON JUL 05 2004

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

0850 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ST. LOUIS               38.64N 90.24W
07/05/2004                   ST. LOUIS CITY     MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ESTIMATED 60 MPH NEAR OLIVE AND COMPTON - NEAR ST. LOUIS
            UNIV.

&&

PRZYBYLINSKI

Local storm report, Jul 5, 7:54 PM CST, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
854 PM CDT MON JUL 05 2004

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

0850 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ST. LOUIS               38.64N 90.24W
07/05/2004                   ST. LOUIS CITY     MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ESTIMATED 60 MPH NEAR OLIVE AND COMPTON - NEAR ST. LOUIS
            UNIV.

&&

PRZYBYLINSKI

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 8:05 PM CST, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
905 PM CDT MON JUL 5 2004

MOC007-019-027-051-103-111-135-137-151-205-060230-
AUDRAIN-BOONE-CALLAWAY-COLE-KNOX-LEWIS-MONITEAU-MONROE-OSAGE-SHELBY-
905 PM CDT MON JUL 5 2004

...THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR PARTS OF NORTHEAST AND
CENTRAL MISSOURI...

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED FOR SECTIONS OF NORTHEAST AND
CENTRAL MISSOURI.  THEREFORE...THE TORNADO WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

KNOX...LEWIS...SHELBY...MONROE...AUDRAIN...BOONE...CALLAWAY...
MONITEAU...COLE...AND OSAGE.

THIS ALSO MEANS THAT THE WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR COLUMBIA...
JEFFERSON CITY...MEXICO...CALIFORNIA...SHELBINA...AND EDINA.

TRUETT

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 16 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:06 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Louis

When: July 5, 8:05 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, Ballwin
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.583, -90.567

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Louis

When: July 5, 8:05 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, Creve Coeur
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.667, -90.417

Hail, St. Louis

When: July 5, 8:05 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, Creve Coeur
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.667, -90.417

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Louis

When: July 5, 8:07 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, 1 mi E of Kirkwood
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.600, -90.417

Hail, St. Louis

When: July 5, 8:07 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, 1 mi E of Kirkwood
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.600, -90.417

Hail, St. Louis

When: July 5, 8:10 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, Webster Groves
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.583, -90.383

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Louis

When: July 5, 8:10 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, Webster Groves
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.583, -90.383

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Louis

When: July 5, 8:15 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, Clayton
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.650, -90.333

Hail, St. Louis

When: July 5, 8:15 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, Brentwood
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 38.617, -90.367

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.
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 Missouri in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history Warnings in Missouri, July 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: 5410792, 5410794, 5410864, 5410788, 5410789, 5410790, 5410791, 5410793, 5410865.