Tornadoes · United States · Indiana · 2004

F0 tornado, Hamilton County, Indiana, May 30, 2004

This F0 tornado ran 0.2 miles across Hamilton County on May 30, 2004, touching down at 8:40 PM EST and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $150,000 of property damage.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. F040 to 72 mphthis tornado

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. F173 to 112 mph

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. F2113 to 157 mph

    Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.

  4. F3158 to 206 mph

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. F4207 to 260 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. F5261 to 318 mph

    Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.

  7. Unrated

    The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating
F0
Date
May 30, 2004
Touchdown
8:40 PM EST (01:40 UTC)
Path length
0.2 miles (0.3 km)
Path width
50 yards (46 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$150,000
County
Hamilton County
Touchdown point
40.220, -86.030
Lift-off point
40.220, -86.030
Record number
1137

The warnings

No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down.

Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.

The forecast that day

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Moderate Risk, with a 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 16:38 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

The air that afternoon

The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), 00:00Z

1.7 hours before the tornado, 210 km from the path. May 31, 2004.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 00:00Z on 2004-05-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 778 joules per kilogram, CIN -28, lifted condensation level 710 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 00:00Z on 2004-05-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 316 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 52 knots.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
778 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-28 J/kg
Surface CAPE
535 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
710 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
52 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
316 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
399 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.7
Supercell composite
9.6
0-3 km lapse rate
4.9 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), 12:00Z

10.3 hours after it, 210 km from the path. May 31, 2004.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2004-05-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 1 joules per kilogram, CIN 0, lifted condensation level 506 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2004-05-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 175 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 41 knots.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Surface CAPE
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
506 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
175 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
110 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
4.2 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What was reported nearby

Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.

Time (UTC)ReportWhereCountyRemark
00:09 UTCTORNADO6 S IndianapolisMarion, INTORNADO REPORTED JUST SOUTH OF THOMPSON ROAD AND MADISON ROAD.
00:10 UTCTORNADO5 Sse IndianapolisMarion, INTORNADO REPORTED BY STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AT THOMPSON AND HARDING ROADS WITH SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.
00:21 UTCTORNADO4 Se IndianapolisMarion, ININDIANAPOLIS POLICE REPORT TORNADO ON THE GROUND AND HEAVY DAMAGE IN THE AREA OF INTERSTATE 65 AND KEYSTONE AVENUE.
00:29 UTCTORNADOIndianapolisMarion, INTORNADO AT EMERSON AND PROSPECT ROADS ON THE SOUTH SIDE AT INDIANAPOLIS.
00:34 UTCTORNADO4 E IndianapolisMarion, INSTATE POLICE REPORTS TORNADO ON THE GROUND AT BROOKVILLE AND KENTLEY ROADS.
00:34 UTCTORNADO4 Se IndianapolisMarion, INTORNADO ON THE GROUND AT SOUTHPORT AND MCFARLAND ROADS.
00:35 UTCTORNADOColfaxClinton, INCOUNTY EMA REPORTS TORNADO NEAR COLFAX.
00:40 UTCTORNADO5 E IndianapolisMarion, INSTATE POLICE REPORTS TORNADO ON THE GROUND JUST SOUTH OF WASHINGTON STREET AND INTERSTATE 465 NEAR WASHINGTON SQUARE.
00:46 UTCTORNADO7 E IndianapolisMarion, INSPOTTER REPORTS TORNADO ON THE GROUND AT INTERSTATE 70 AND GERMAN CHURCH ROAD.
00:50 UTCTORNADO7 Nw GreenfieldHancock, INRADIO SPOTTER REPORTS TORNADO ON THE GROUND ONE MILE NORTHWEST OF MOUNT COMFORT AIRPORT.
00:51 UTCTORNADOMulberryClinton, INCOUNTY EMA REPORTS TORNADO ON THE GROUND IN MULBERRY MOVING NORTHEAST TOWARDS ROSSVILLE.
00:56 UTCTORNADO8 Nnw GreenfieldHancock, INTORNADO ON THE GROUND NORTH OF MOUNT COMFORT AIRPORT.
01:47 UTCTSTM WND GST 0NoblesvilleHamilton, INWIDESPREAD 60 MPH WIND GUSTS REPORTED ACROSS COUNTY.
01:52 UTCTORNADO5 N LapelMadison, INTORNADO REPORTED ON THE GROUND IN PERKINSVILLE BY RADIO WEATHER SPOTTERS.
01:55 UTCTSTM WND DMGFranktonMadison, INWINDOWS BLOWN OUT OF FIRE STATION IN FRANKTON. REPORTED BY AMATEUR RADIO.
01:55 UTCTORNADOPeruMiami, IN*** 1 INJ *** WEST CENTER AND NORTH SIDE OF TOWN HAD WIDESPREAD TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. TWO BUSINESSES HEAVILY DAMAGED. LARGE COMMUNICATION TOWER KNOCKED DOWN.
01:58 UTCTSTM WND DMGPeruMiami, INTRAILER PARK HAS WIND DAMAGE.
01:58 UTCTSTM WND DMGPeruMiami, INNUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY.
02:15 UTCTORNADOGastonDelaware, INSPOTTER REPORTS TORNADO ON THE GROUND IN GASTON.

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2004 tornado in IndianaEvery tornado in Indiana since 1950Warnings in force in Indiana nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of May 30, 2004

80 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
May 301:42 AM CDTF0Wagoner, OK3.5300$10,000
May 301:51 AM CDTF1Mayes, OK7.2600$30,000
May 306:45 AM CDTF1Grundy, TN1.010$30,000
May 309:37 AM CDTF0Tazewell, IL0.110
May 3012:15 PM CDTF0McCracken, KY1.550$20,000
May 301:05 PM ESTF1Owen, IN8.475$300,000
May 301:33 PM ESTF0Fountain, IN0.130
May 302:09 PM ESTF1Monroe, IN7.075$250,000
May 302:18 PM CDTF0Lee, IA0.340$3,000
May 302:22 PM CDTF0Todd, KY0.550
May 302:23 PM CDTF1Lee, IA0.370$20,000
May 302:25 PM ESTF3Crawford, IN15.0400111$5.0 million
May 302:26 PM CDTF0Lee, IA0.340$10,000
May 302:30 PM CDTF1Lee, IA0.570$20,000
May 303:30 PM EDTF1Clark, IN2.010$500,000
May 303:40 PM EDTF0Floyd, IN3.810
May 302:40 PM CDTF2Hopkins, KY7.0175$300,000
May 303:10 PM ESTF1Washington, IN10.630$120,000
May 303:12 PM CDTF0Daviess, KY0.130
May 303:23 PM CDTF0Shannon, MO0.150
May 303:28 PM CDTF0Benton, IA0.240
May 303:35 PM CDTF0Sherburne, MN0.530
May 303:36 PM CDTF1Iowa, IA0.250$10,000
May 303:50 PM CDTF0Buchanan, IA0.230
May 303:51 PM CDTF0Buchanan, IA0.340$10,000
May 303:53 PM CDTF1Laclede, MO1.0200$10,000
May 303:56 PM CDTF0Jones, IA0.330
May 304:05 PM CDTF1Madison, IL2.070
May 305:27 PM EDTF0Jefferson, KY0.330$100,000
May 304:50 PM CDTF1Clinton, IL7.080
May 304:55 PM ESTF0Clay, IN0.125
May 305:05 PM CDTF1Woodford, IL9.075
May 305:10 PM CDTF0Fayette, IL0.140
May 305:20 PM CDTF1Saint Louis, MO2.0501$100,000
May 305:45 PM CDTF0Reynolds, MO0.140
May 305:57 PM CDTF0Logan, IL0.1403$250,000
May 306:00 PM ESTF0Morgan, IN0.150$10,000
May 307:05 PM EDTF0Powell, KY0.117
May 306:10 PM ESTF1Morgan, IN5.075$20,000
May 306:11 PM CDTF1Livingston, IL12.050
May 306:12 PM CDTF0Livingston, IL0.220
May 306:24 PM CDTF1Washington, IL4.570
May 306:25 PM CDTF1Washington, IL3.580
May 306:25 PM CDTF1Perry, IL12.075$250,000
May 306:26 PM CDTF1Washington, IL4.0100
May 306:27 PM CDTF1Washington, IL4.570
May 306:28 PM CDTF1Washington, IL18.575$100,000
May 306:30 PM ESTF0Hendricks, IN0.850
May 306:32 PM CDTF0Livingston, IL0.220
May 306:32 PM CDTF0Jackson, IL0.550
May 306:32 PM ESTF0Hendricks, IN4.175
May 306:40 PM CDTF0Livingston, IL1.020
May 307:00 PM CDTF1Nevada, AR10.0100$80,000
May 307:00 PM ESTF2Marion, IN20.010026$19 million
May 307:13 PM CDTF0Clay, IL0.250
May 307:19 PM CDTF0Clay, IL0.250
May 307:26 PM ESTF0Tippecanoe, IN0.120
May 307:28 PM CDTF0Goodhue, MN0.525
May 307:28 PM CDTF0Chisago, MN0.325
May 307:29 PM ESTF2Tippecanoe, IN1.875$1.0 million

All 81 of them

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.