Widespread damaging winds raked all of southern Illinois. The storms were in the form of short lines or bows as they moved through Jefferson, Perry, and Jackson Counties, including Mount Vernon and Carbondale. A couple of tornadoes were spawned in those areas. As the storms moved east, they evolved into an intense squall line, producing widespread damaging gusts around 60 MPH with isolated higher gusts to 90 MPH. Numerous trees were blown down in nearly every county. Some of the trees fell on roads and power lines. In Wayne County, trees and utility poles were down in Sims, but the northwest part of the county from Orchardville to Johnsonville was hardest hit with utility damage. In Hamilton County, the whole city of Mcleansboro was without power after numerous trees fell. Several of the trees landed on houses, causing severe damage to at least one house. Trees fell on vehicles in Mount Carmel, where gusts were reported to 68 MPH. At least two occupied vehicles were struck by falling trees, one on Route 34 north of Harrisburg, and another north of Old Shawneetown. In both cases, the occupants were freed by rescue workers without being injured. In Harrisburg, trees fell on several houses and vehicles, and a radio tower used for fire dispatch operations was blown down. Two roofs were blown off of houses in Raleigh, just north of Harrisburg. A tree fell on a house in Thebes, near the Mississippi River in Alexander County. The most intense winds (estimated near 90 MPH) occurred in Massac County about 5 miles west of Round Knob, where a house lost portions of its roof and attic. At least 10 to 15 trees were reported down in Massac County. The storms produced very heavy rain that caused street flooding. The U.S. Highway 51 overpass on the north side of Cairo was blocked by high water.

Thunderstorm Wind in JOHNSON, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 18:20:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:30:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Thunderstorm Wind in POPE, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 18:35:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:50:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in PERRY, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 17:15:00 to 30-MAY-04 17:30:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 50 EG
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Thunderstorm Wind in PULASKI, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 18:15:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:27:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in HAMILTON, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 18:15:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:30:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Tornado in JEFFERSON, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 17:29:00 to 30-MAY-04 17:57:00 (CST)
Location: WOODLAWN
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 100K
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

From Washington County, the tornado entered western Jefferson County about 5 miles south of where Interstate 64 crosses the county line, then moved northeast across the interstate near the Woodlawn exit. A semi was blown off the interstate near the exit. The tornado passed just south of Dix, then lifted north of Texico, less than 2 miles from the Marion County line. Damage in this very rural area consisted of numerous trees down and destroyed sheds and barns. About two dozen houses sustained damage, mostly due to trees falling on them. Many trees were on power lines, and power poles were snapped. The damage path was not continuous. The tornado was rated F-1 for just a brief portion of its track, where maximum winds were estimated near 110 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in WAYNE, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 18:10:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:40:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in FRANKLIN, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 17:56:00 to 30-MAY-04 17:56:00 (CST)
Location: MULKEYTOWN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 17:20:00 to 30-MAY-04 17:20:00 (CST)
Location: AVA
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Thunderstorm Wind in HARDIN, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 18:50:00 to 30-MAY-04 19:05:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy Rain in ALEXANDER, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 18:05:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:30:00 (CST)
Location: CAIRO
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Thunderstorm Wind in WABASH, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 18:35:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:35:00 (CST)
Location: MT CARMEL
Magnitude: 59 EG
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in JEFFERSON, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 17:38:00 to 30-MAY-04 17:38:00 (CST)
Location: MT VERNON
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Thunderstorm Wind in ALEXANDER, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 18:03:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:15:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 55 EG
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in UNION, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 18:00:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:00:00 (CST)
Location: JONESBORO
Magnitude: 50 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in GALLATIN, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 18:45:00 to 30-MAY-04 19:00:00 (CST)
Location: SHAWNEETOWN
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tornado in JACKSON, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 17:32:00 to 30-MAY-04 17:33:00 (CST)
Location: MURPHYSBORO
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

A brief tornado was witnessed. No damage was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in MASSAC, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 18:40:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:55:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 78 EG
Property damage: 20K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Tornado in PERRY, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 17:25:00 to 30-MAY-04 17:40:00 (CST)
Location: PINCKNEYVILLE
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 250K
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

The tornado began on Bethel Church Road and ended at the Washington County line near where U.S. Highway 51 crosses the county line. Five barns were destroyed directly by wind. Other damage was due mostly to trees falling on buildings. At least four residences were moderately damaged. A machinery storage building and sheds were demolished. An airplane hangar was destroyed. Numerous trees were blown down, blocking some roads. At a church camp along the Washington County line, many trees were blown down, including one that fell on the camp office. A house was damaged. Peak winds were estimated near 90 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in FRANKLIN, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 17:43:00 to 30-MAY-04 17:55:00 (CST)
Location: BUCKNER
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in SALINE, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 18:22:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:45:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 70 EG
Property damage: 310K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Thunderstorm Wind in WHITE, ILLINOIS
From 30-MAY-04 18:45:00 to 30-MAY-04 19:00:00 (CST)
Location: ENFIELD
Magnitude: 50 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT