Mother Nature provided her own fireworks on this Independence Day as severe thunderstorms lashed out across north-central Kansas. Rooks and Phillips counties were hardest hit.  In Rooks county, three people were injured when their camper was toppled and rolled by the wind at Webster State Park.  The injuries were minor, even though the  camper rolled almost three times.  Another camper was damaged, but that camper was unoccupied at the time.  25 to 50 power poles were snapped across Rooks county.  Several buildings in the southern part of the county sustained at least minor damage.  In Phillipsburg, an airplane at the airport was flipped and damaged and numerous large trees were uprooted.  In Smith Center, a large window was blown out of a building on South Main Street.  There were numerous limbs down around that time.  Once the storm reached Jewell and Mitchell counties, a 68 mph wind gust was recorded near Webber and a 76 mph wind gust at Beloit.  Power was out for a time in Beloit.  Several large trees were toppled and there were several instances of minor damage throughout the town.

Thunderstorm Wind in ROOKS, KANSAS
From 04-JUL-04 21:30:00 to 04-JUL-04 21:30:00 (CST)
Location: STOCKTON
Magnitude: 61 EG
Property damage: 100K
Crop damage: 200K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in SMITH, KANSAS
From 04-JUL-04 22:00:00 to 04-JUL-04 22:00:00 (CST)
Location: SMITH CENTER
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 25K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Thunderstorm Wind in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 04-JUL-04 22:30:00 to 04-JUL-04 22:30:00 (CST)
Location: BELOIT
Magnitude: 66 MG
Property damage: 100K
Crop damage: 100K
Reported by: STORM CHASER

Thunderstorm Wind in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 04-JUL-04 22:44:00 to 04-JUL-04 22:44:00 (CST)
Location: WEBBER
Magnitude: 59 MG
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in SMITH, KANSAS
From 04-JUL-04 22:00:00 to 04-JUL-04 22:00:00 (CST)
Location: KENSINGTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 100K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in ROOKS, KANSAS
From 04-JUL-04 21:24:00 to 04-JUL-04 21:24:00 (CST)
Location: PLAINVILLE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 100K
Crop damage: 500K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Penny to walnut size hail was reported in the Palco area along with 70 mph winds.

Hail in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 04-JUL-04 21:30:00 to 04-JUL-04 21:30:00 (CST)
Location: NATOMA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in ROOKS, KANSAS
From 04-JUL-04 21:30:00 to 04-JUL-04 21:30:00 (CST)
Location: WEBSTER RES
Magnitude: 61 EG
Property damage: 75K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

The occupants of a camper overturned by strong thunderstorm winds were slightly injured.

Thunderstorm Wind in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 04-JUL-04 21:30:00 to 04-JUL-04 21:30:00 (CST)
Location: LOGAN
Magnitude: 51 MG
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Thunderstorm Wind in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 04-JUL-04 21:40:00 to 04-JUL-04 21:40:00 (CST)
Location: PHILLIPSBURG
Magnitude: 62 EG
Property damage: 100K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Thunderstorm Wind in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 04-JUL-04 22:40:00 to 04-JUL-04 22:40:00 (CST)
Location: MANKATO
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 25K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 04-JUL-04 21:40:00 to 04-JUL-04 21:40:00 (CST)
Location: SPEED
Magnitude: 61 EG
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO