On 30 May 2004, a warm front was draped across far southern portions of Indiana in the morning, as part of an unseasonably strong cyclone centered in Minnesota.  This warm front began the day nearly stationary, taking 8 hours to move from Vincennes to Bloomington, then rocketing northward as the low pressure system quickly pushed off to the northeast late, dragging a cold front through the state during the overnight hours. All the necessary ingredients for a major severe weather outbreak were falling into place.  Morning upper-air observations showed very deep moisture and intense wind shear (wind change in speed and direction with respect to height) in the lower levels of the atmosphere.  Fairly clear skies during the course of the day contributed to moderately strong instability across much of Indiana.  Along and north of the warm front, winds backed to the east-southeast, further enhancing the wind shear.  This area of enhanced shear with the deep moisture and instability pooled along it would serve as the focus for the first two rounds of severe weather in the Indianapolis County Warning Area (CWA) on May 30th.The first wave of severe weather came in the early afternoon, as individual rotating thunderstorms, or supercells, formed just south of the warm front, crossing over the boundary soon after forming and moving into the area of enhanced shear.  These supercells began to show strong rotation soon after their formation, and produced several funnel reports and confirmed tornadoes near Spencer and Ellettsville.  Each of these tornadoes were rated F1 on the Fujita Scale of Tornado Intensity, a rating corresponding to the partial peeling of roofs and destruction of small outbuildings.Wave number two began in the late afternoon and continued into the early evening hours. Additional supercell development occurred further west along the warm front, in an area that had been receiving plenty of heating all day, maximizing instability in the very moist air mass. This wave of storms included a storm that produced tornadoes in Fountain and Tippecanoe counties, one of which was rated F2 near Dayton, just southeast of Lafayette, and a long-lived supercell that tracked along and just south of the I-70 corridor, producing tornadoes in Brazil, Little Point, Monrovia, just south of Plainfield, Camby, and Indianapolis.  Power flashes from the Camby tornado were visible from the front door of NWS Indianapolis.  The strongest of these tornadoes was the Indianapolis tornado, which briefly achieved F2 strength on the southeast side near Keystone Avenue between Raymond and Troy where there was significant damage to numerous homes, a nursing home and an elementary school. 26 nursing home inhabitants were treated at local hospitals for minor injuries, and the rest were relocated as the building was inhabitable. In addition to this tornado, the Monrovia tornado was rated F1.  All additional tornadoes from this particular supercell were rated F0, a rating corresponding to moderate tree damage and damage to outbuildings and signboards. There was also a lightning fatality in Veedersburg in Fountain County as a 24 year old male was struck while on a baseball field.The final wave of severe weather came in the late evening and early nighttime hours, and was mostly in the form of wind damage, although brief tornadoes did occur along the squall line that had formed near the Mississippi River and tracked eastward, accompanying the passage of the cold front, including tornadoes near Lake Monroe and Crothersville in south central Indiana, and Atlanta and Frankton in north central Indiana.  The tornado near Lake Monroe was rated F1, while all additional tornadoes were rated F0.To complicate the issue, the repeated rounds of heavy rain caused flooding problems across much of the area, with several flash flood warnings and urban/small stream flood advisories being issued during the evening and overnight hours.Fifteen total tornadoes touched down in central Indiana on May 30th, with damage estimates approaching $13,000,000 for central Indiana alone. In all, an additional eight tornadoes touched down in portions of Indiana that are served by neighboring NWS forecast offices, bringing the statewide total for the day to 23, four over the yearly average of 19.  This places the May 30th outbreak as the second largest outbreak in state history, behind the outbreak of 2 June 1990, and ahead of the "Super Outbreak" of 3-4 April 1974.  37 tornadoes touched down statewide in the 1990 outbreak, and 21 tornadoes touched down during the Super Outbreak, which was the largest outbreak of tornadoes in recorded history, with 148 tornadoes touching down across 13 states and southern Canada, killing 351 and injuring thousands.  Nationwide, several more tornadoes were reported, along with nearly 200 reports of large hail and nearly 600 reports of wind damage.  Reports occurred all along the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee Valleys, stretching from central Minnesota all the way to northeast Texas.

Tornado in OWEN, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 13:05:00 to 30-MAY-04 13:18:00 (EST)
Location: FREEDOM
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 300K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

An F1 tornado skipped along for almost 8 and a half miles from near Freedom to Spencer. A few homes received significant damage about midway along the path of the tornado.

Tornado in FOUNTAIN, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 13:33:00 to 30-MAY-04 13:33:00 (EST)
Location: VEEDERSBURG
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

State police reported a brief weak tornado touchdown in a field near Veedersburg.

Tornado in MONROE, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 14:09:00 to 30-MAY-04 14:25:00 (EST)
Location: ELLETTSVILLE
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 250K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

An F1 tornado caused significant damage to a cabin northeast of Ellettsville. Most of the path was along a wooded area with numerous trees felled.

Hail in CLAY, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 16:50:00 to 30-MAY-04 16:52:00 (EST)
Location: CENTER PT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tornado in MORGAN, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 18:10:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:19:00 (EST)
Location: LITTLE PT
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 20K
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

An F1 tornado touched down 2 miles northeast of Little Point and traveled 5 miles to just inside Hendricks County, about a mile southeast of Hazelwood damaging a few homes.

Tornado in HENDRICKS, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 18:19:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:20:00 (EST)
Location: HAZELWOOD
Tornado F-scale: F1
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

An F1 tornado moved from 2 miles northeast of Little Point and traveled 5 miles to just inside the Hendricks County line, about 1 mile southeast of Hazelwood.

Hail in VERMILLION, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 18:30:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:31:00 (EST)
Location: NEWPORT
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tornado in HENDRICKS, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 18:30:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:31:00 (EST)
Location: JOPPA
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

An F0 tornado touched down briefly just east and northeast of Joppa. Report was from a National Weather Service storm survey.

Tornado in HENDRICKS, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 18:32:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:38:00 (EST)
Location: FRIENDSWOOD
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

An F0 tornado touched down just southwest of Friendswood in Southwestern Hendricks County and traveled 4.1 miles northeast to just north of West Newton in Marion County per National Weather Service storm survey.

Tornado in MARION, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 18:38:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:45:00 (EST)
Location: WEST NEWTON
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

An F0 tornado touched down just southwest of Friendswood in southwest Hendricks County and moved 4.1 miles northeast to just north of West Newton in Marion County per National Weather Service storm survey.

Thunderstorm Wind in PUTNAM, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 17:23:00 to 30-MAY-04 17:24:00 (EST)
Location: CLOVERDALE
Magnitude: 50 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tornado in CLAY, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 16:55:00 to 30-MAY-04 16:55:00 (EST)
Location: BRAZIL
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

An F0 tornado touched down in a corn field 3 miles west of Brazil. No property damage was reported. The report was from an amateur radio operator.

Tornado in MORGAN, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 18:00:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:00:00 (EST)
Location: LITTLE PT
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

An F0 tornado touched down near Little Point just south of Interstate 70. There was light damage to one barn roof top. The report was from an a National Weather Service storm survey.

Hail in HENDRICKS, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 18:09:00 to 30-MAY-04 18:11:00 (EST)
Location: CLAYTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Tornado in TIPPECANOE, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 19:29:00 to 30-MAY-04 19:35:00 (EST)
Location: DAYTON
Tornado F-scale: F2
Property damage: 1M
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

A tornado touched down near Dayton. The tornado caused significant tree damage and blew parts of roofs off two buildings in Dayton. The tornado continued moving northeast with sporadic damage until reaching large homes approximately 1.5 miles northeast of Dayton.  Two homes were nearly destroyed on Halifax Lane. Wind speeds were estimated around 150 mph.

Tornado in HAMILTON, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 20:40:00 to 30-MAY-04 20:41:00 (EST)
Location: ATLANTA
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 150K
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

An F0 tornado damaged a barn and some farm equipment as it briefly touched down near Atlanta.

Tornado in MADISON, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 20:55:00 to 30-MAY-04 20:58:00 (EST)
Location: FRANKTON
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 75K
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

An F0 tornado did minor damage to a building in Frankton.

Tornado in MARION, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 19:00:00 to 30-MAY-04 19:47:00 (EST)
Location: SUNSHINE GARDENS
Tornado F-scale: F2
Property damage: 19M
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

A tornado cut a near continuous 18 mile path across southern and eastern Marion County before briefly moving into Hancock County. The tornado dropped down near exit 4 at Harding Street and Interstate 465 on the south side of metro Indianapolis and moved into Hancock County to near Mount Comfort. The worst damage was found near South Keystone Avenue between Raymond St. And Troy. The damage was rated F2 there. There was significant damage to numerous homes, a nursing home and an elementary school. 26 nursing home inhabitants were treated at local hospitals for mainly minor cuts and scrapes, and the rest were relocated as the building was inhabitable. The tornado continued across 465 at Post Road and then lifted. Additional brief touchdowns (F0) occurred near 21st Street, 25th and Mittehoffer and German Church Road and 30th Street. The last touchdown occurred at 38th street and County Line Road where it crossed into Hancock County before lifting. A total of 600 homes, 24 apartment buildings and 90 commercial buildings received damage across Decatur, Perry, Center and Warren townships of Marion County.

Tornado in HANCOCK, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 19:47:00 to 30-MAY-04 19:50:00 (EST)
Location: MT COMFORT
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

A tornado cut a near continuous 18 mile path across southern and eastern Marion County before briefly moving into Hancock County. The tornado dropped down near exit 4 at Harding Street and Interstate 465 on the south side of metro Indianapolis and moved into Hancock County to near Mount Comfort. The worst damage was found near South Keystone Avenue between Raymond St. And Troy. The damage was rated F2 there. There was significant damage to numerous homes, a nursing home and an elementary school. 26 nursing home inhabitants were treated at local hospitals for mainly minor cuts and scrapes, and the rest were relocated as the building was inhabitable. The tornado continued across 465 at Post Road and then lifted. Additional brief touchdowns (F0) occurred near 21st Street, 25th and Mittehoffer and German Church Road and 30th Street. The last touchdown occurred at 38th street and County Line Road where it crossed into Hancock County before lifting. A total of 600 homes, 24 apartment buildings and 90 commercial buildings received damage across Decatur, Perry, Center and Warren townships of Marion County.

Tornado in TIPPECANOE, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 19:26:00 to 30-MAY-04 19:26:00 (EST)
Location: ROMNEY
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

National Weather Service storm survey and Emergency Manager reported brief touchdown of weak F0 tornado in a corn field. No damage reported.

Flash Flood in PUTNAM, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 22:00:00 to 31-MAY-04 02:00:00 (EST)
Location: BELLE UNION
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Several roads under water.

Tornado in MONROE, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 21:15:00 to 30-MAY-04 21:15:00 (EST)
Location: BLOOMINGTON
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 150K
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

An F0 tornado moved across Lake Monroe southeast of Bloomington sinking several sailboats.

Tornado in JACKSON, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 22:05:00 to 30-MAY-04 22:10:00 (EST)
Location: CROTHERSVILLE
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 250K
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

An F0 tornado blew done numerous trees and a HAM radio antenna and did damage to the roof of a business.

Thunderstorm Wind in SULLIVAN, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 20:15:00 to 30-MAY-04 20:16:00 (EST)
Location: CARLISLE
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in KNOX, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 20:40:00 to 30-MAY-04 20:41:00 (EST)
Location: WILLIS
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in HAMILTON, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 20:35:00 to 30-MAY-04 20:55:00 (EST)
Location: BOXLEY
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in LAWRENCE, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 21:25:00 to 30-MAY-04 21:45:00 (EST)
Location: POPCORN
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in BROWN, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 21:36:00 to 30-MAY-04 21:37:00 (EST)
Location: NASHVILLE
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Lightning in FOUNTAIN, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 12:52:00 to 30-MAY-04 12:52:00 (EST)
Location: VEEDERSBURG
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

A 24 year old male was hit by lightning on a baseball field and died shortly thereafter.

Thunderstorm Wind in BARTHOLOMEW, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 22:00:00 to 30-MAY-04 22:01:00 (EST)
Location: COLUMBUS
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

A tree fell on a van busting out its windows and flattening its suspension. Several other trees were also downed in the vicinity.

Flash Flood in HENDRICKS, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 22:30:00 to 31-MAY-04 02:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Several cars were stuck in high water and had to be towed out.

Flash Flood in JOHNSON, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 22:00:00 to 31-MAY-04 02:00:00 (EST)
Location: NORTH PORTION
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

3 roads closed in northern portion of the county due to high water.

Flash Flood in MARION, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 21:30:00 to 31-MAY-04 02:00:00 (EST)
Location: NORA
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Street flooding reported.

Flash Flood in MORGAN, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 22:00:00 to 31-MAY-04 02:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Flash flooding reported mainly along White Lick Creek.

Flash Flood in VIGO, INDIANA
From 30-MAY-04 20:30:00 to 31-MAY-04 01:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

4 roads were closed due to high water.