Tornado in Missouri, May 30, 2004

Name: Tornado in Missouri, May 30, 2004
Start: 2004-05-30T16:20
End: 2004-05-30T16:28
Location: Missouri

May 30, 2004 · NWS LSX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

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: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $100,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 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 30, 4:10 PM CST, 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 30, 4:10 PM CST, 10 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
510 PM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004

.DISCUSSION...
CURRENTLY AND IN THE NR-TERM...SIGFNT SVR WX OUTBREAK OCCURRING
ATTM.  NOT ONLY A SVR THREAT HIGHLIGHTED BUT ALSO FLOODING GIVEN HVY
RAFL THAT OCCURRED JUST A FEW DAYS AGO AND VERY EFFICIENT RAFL
PRODUCERS ON RADAR ATTM...SO WL CONT FFA THRU MDNGT.  THE ACTIVITY
IS XPCTD TO EXIT FA BY MDNGT AS FNT PUSHES THRU AND STG MID-LVL
Q-VEC DIV MOVS THRU.

THE FCST PROBLEM FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS THEN TURNS TO NEG-TILT
TROF OVR UPR MS VLY AND ASSOC PCPN CHCS.  BY WED...THIS TROF IS GONE
WITH A PREDOMINATELY NWLY UPR FLO TAKING HOLD THRU NXT WKND.

MOISTURE MON THRU WED WL BE AOB NORMAL...WITH PWATS BTWN .6 AND
.85.  EVEN B-LYR MOISTURE WL BE RATHER LIMITED...AND THUS POPS FOR
MON AND TUE WL BE LIMITED TO 30 OR BLO DESPITE DECENT INSTAB AT MID
LVLS...ESP ON MON.  BY WED...MID LVL SYS AND FNT HV PUSHED THRU FA
TO LWR POPS A TAD THAT DAY.

THRU WED...FCST TEMPS WL BE AT OR SLGTLY BLO NORMAL FOR ERL JUN AS A
SERIES OF COOLER HI PRES BLDS INTO FA.  GENERALLY SIDED WITH THE
WRMR GUIDANCE HOWEVER...ESP AT NIGHT...AS WLY SFC WNDS NOT
NECESSARILY A GOOD CLIMATOLOGICAL IND OF VERY COOL WX.

FOR THE EXTDD PD (WED NGT THRU SUN)...NWLY UPR FLO TAKES HOLD THRU
THE PD WHICH WL MAKE ANY PCPN FCST QUITE DIFFICULT...ESP GIVEN THE
MED RNG MDL DEPICTION OF WK VORT CNTRS PROPAGATING SEWD NR MO/IL AFT
FRI.  GIVEN HOW FAR OUT THIS IS AND HIGH AMNT OF UNCERTAINTY...
DEFERRED PCPN CHCS TO SLGT CHC AT THIS PT.  TEMPS WL BE ARND
SEASONABLE LVLS FOR ERL JUN.
&&

.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.MO...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT.
      TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 7 PM CDT.
.IL...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT.
      TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 7 PM CDT.
&&

TES

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 30, 3:50 PM CST, 30 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
450 PM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004

ILZ058>060-064-065-069-070-074-079-095>102-MOZ018-019-026-027-
034>036-041-042-047>052-059>065-072>075-084-085-099-311200-
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-
450 PM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004

...SIGNIFICANT OUTBREAK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDING TORNADOES
IS ONGOING AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING...

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

THERE CONTINUES TO BE A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR THIS
EVENING ACROSS THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA.

A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE PUSHING
ACROSS EASTERN MISSOURI AND SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS THIS EVENING.  THE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO LEAVE THE AREA BY MIDNIGHT.

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR
A FEW STRONG LONG-LIVED TORNADOES...VERY LARGE HAIL...AND DAMAGING
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.  HEAVY RAINFALL ACCOMPANYING THE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL ALSO RESULT IN A FLASH FLOOD THREAT...ESPECIALLY OVER PORTIONS
OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI.

PEOPLE ARE URGED TO KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST WEATHER FORECASTS AND
STATEMENTS...AND BE PREPARED IF SEVERE WEATHER THREATENS. DUE TO THE
HOLIDAY WEEKEND...PEOPLE WHICH WILL BE OUTDOORS ARE URGED TO HAVE A
SOURCE OF QUICK WEATHER INFORMATION CLOSE AT HAND. ALSO PEOPLE LIVING
NEAR FLOOD-PRONE AREAS...CREEKS...STREAMS OR RIVERS...OR WITH
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS IN THESE LOCATIONS NEED TO PAY VERY CLOSE
ATTENTION TO RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN ON MONDAY AFTERNOON
ACROSS NORTHEAST MISSOURI AND WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...AND ACROSS THE
ENTIRE AREA ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NEEDED THIS EVENING. SPOTTER GROUPS SHOULD
PLAN ACCORDINGLY.

TES

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 30, 4:11 PM CST, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
511 PM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004

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

0505 PM     HAIL             2 W TROY                38.73N 89.93W
05/30/2004  1.75 INCH        MADISON            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HIGHWAY 270 AND INTERSTATE 55...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND
            60 MPH WIND GUST.

&&

CVKING

Local storm report, May 30, 4:17 PM CST, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
517 PM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004

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

0510 PM     HAIL             MARYLAND HEIGHTS        38.72N 90.48W
05/30/2004  1.75 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0510 PM     HAIL             OVERLAND                38.70N 90.37W
05/30/2004  1.75 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            EARTH CITY AT I-70...HANELY AND PAGE INTERSECTION

0515 PM     HAIL             AUGUSTA                 38.57N 90.88W
05/30/2004  0.25 INCH        ST. CHARLES        MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0515 PM     TSTM WND GST     HAZELWOOD               38.94N 89.17W
05/30/2004  60 MPH           FAYETTE            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

CVKING

Local storm report, May 30, 4:17 PM CST, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED HAZELWOOD COUNTY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
517 PM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004

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

0510 PM     HAIL             MARYLAND HEIGHTS        38.72N 90.48W
05/30/2004  1.75 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0510 PM     HAIL             OVERLAND                38.70N 90.37W
05/30/2004  1.75 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            EARTH CITY AT I-70...HANELY AND PAGE INTERSECTION

0515 PM     HAIL             AUGUSTA                 38.57N 90.88W
05/30/2004  0.25 INCH        ST. CHARLES        MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0515 PM     TSTM WND GST     HAZELWOOD               38.94N 89.17W
05/30/2004  60 MPH           ST. LOUIS          MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

CVKING

Local storm report, May 30, 4:17 PM CST, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
517 PM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004

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

0510 PM     HAIL             MARYLAND HEIGHTS        38.72N 90.48W
05/30/2004  1.75 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0510 PM     HAIL             OVERLAND                38.70N 90.37W
05/30/2004  1.75 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            EARTH CITY AT I-70...HANELY AND PAGE INTERSECTION

0515 PM     HAIL             AUGUSTA                 38.57N 90.88W
05/30/2004  0.25 INCH        ST. CHARLES        MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0515 PM     TSTM WND GST     HAZELWOOD               38.94N 89.17W
05/30/2004  60 MPH           FAYETTE            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

CVKING

Local storm report, May 30, 4:20 PM CST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
520 PM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004

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

0520 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 S BELLEVILLE          38.46N 90.00W
05/30/2004  64 MPH           ST. CLAIR          IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER MEASURED WIND GUST

&&

CVKING

Local storm report, May 30, 4:20 PM CST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
520 PM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004

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

0520 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 S BELLEVILLE          38.46N 90.00W
05/30/2004  64 MPH           ST. CLAIR          IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER MEASURED WIND GUST

&&

CVKING

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 29 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:21 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, St. Louis

When: May 30, 4:20 PM CST to 4:28 PM CST
Where: St. Louis County, Berkeley
Rating: F1
Path length: 2 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 38.750, -90.350

A tornado formed near I-170 and Frost Avenue in Berkeley causing F1 damage to the roof of a business and several apartment buildings. On Frost Avenue, a 15 inch branch from an elm tree fell on a SUV killing the driver. The tornado weakened and caused mainly tree top damage as it moved east northeast The tornado crossed New Florissant Road and entered Calverton Park where several large trees and power lines were downed. The tornado dissipated as it approached North Elizabeth Avenue.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Tornado, St. Louis	2004-05-30	39	Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Direct

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.

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 The tornado archive for Missouri, 2004 Warnings in Missouri, 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: 5396287.