This major, widespread damaging wind event began during the afternoon as thunderstorms developed across eastern Colorado and moved into extreme NW Kansas and extreme SW Nebraska. The event transitioned from small hail events and individual thunderstorm downbursts producing minor damage to a large scale high-wind event sweeping rapidly east away from the parent thunderstorms.  Widespread winds of 60 to 70 mph occurred with swaths of stronger winds reaching over 90 mph.  Tree damage was extensive over a 10 county area with some trees 18 to 24 inches in diameter being snapped off above ground.  Numerous reports were received of small buildings and sheds destroyed along with widespread roof damage.  Power poles were also either pushed over or broken, resulting in areas of power outage for 1-2 hours.  A huge cloud of dirt was raised as the strong outflow raced eastward, likely enhanced by several years of dry soils. Visibility was instantly reduced to near zero with law enforcement and rescue personnel stating it was difficult to see beyond the vehicle hood when driving.  Two fatalities were reported on Interstate-70, including the death of a Kansas state senator, whose vehicle was struck from behind by a semi-trailer as he slowed down in reduced visibility.  Other vehicular accidents also occurred on county highways resulting in minor property damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERMAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 15:45:00 to 29-MAY-04 15:45:00 (MST)
Location: GOODLAND
Magnitude: 69 EG
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Two 30-foot cottonwood trees down laying to the east.  A 40x80 foot shed (door closed) heavily damaged.  Irrigation pivot and first tower laying down to southeast.  Witness stated a wall of dirt came in rapidly from the west producing the damage.  Time estimated based on nearby reports.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHEYENNE, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 15:40:00 to 29-MAY-04 15:40:00 (MST)
Location: ST FRANCIS
Magnitude: 69 EG
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Fuel tank blown over near Good Samaritan assisted living center.  Time estimated based on nearby reports.

Thunderstorm Wind in NORTON, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 17:58:00 to 29-MAY-04 17:58:00 (MST)
Location: ALMENA
Magnitude: 58 MG
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Nothern Valley High School

Thunderstorm Wind in DECATUR, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 17:14:00 to 29-MAY-04 17:14:00 (MST)
Location: OBERLIN
Magnitude: 54 MG
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Oberlin Elementary School

Thunderstorm Wind in DECATUR, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 17:21:00 to 29-MAY-04 17:21:00 (MST)
Location: CEDAR BLUFFS
Magnitude: 56 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Power poles snapped, lines down and started a fire.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHEYENNE, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 15:38:00 to 29-MAY-04 15:38:00 (MST)
Location: ST FRANCIS
Magnitude: 78 MG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Heavy damage to barn and farm equipment with significant tree damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERMAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 16:00:00 to 29-MAY-04 16:00:00 (MST)
Location: GOODLAND
Magnitude: 57 MG
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHEYENNE, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 15:39:00 to 29-MAY-04 15:39:00 (MST)
Location: ST FRANCIS
Magnitude: 61 EG
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

High Wind in LOGAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 17:00:00 to 29-MAY-04 19:00:00 (MST)
Magnitude: 56 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

2-4 inch branches littering the ground. Power out on west side of Oakley for 4 hours. Low visibility in blowing dirt for over an hour.  Fatal accident killing a state senator on Interstate-70 occurred in period of near zero visibility.

Thunderstorm Wind in THOMAS, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 16:20:00 to 29-MAY-04 16:20:00 (MST)
Location: LEVANT
Magnitude: 56 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in CHEYENNE, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 15:30:00 to 29-MAY-04 15:30:00 (MST)
Location: ST FRANCIS
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

4.5 inch diameter tree limbs down.

Thunderstorm Wind in NORTON, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 18:13:00 to 29-MAY-04 18:13:00 (MST)
Location: LENORA
Magnitude: 54 MG
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERMAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 16:03:00 to 29-MAY-04 16:03:00 (MST)
Location: GOODLAND ARPT
Magnitude: 54 MG
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Measured by GLD ASOS.

High Wind in GOVE, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 17:00:00 to 29-MAY-04 19:00:00 (MST)
Magnitude: 60 MG
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Roof and greenhouse damage.  Visibility under 1/4 mile in blowing dirt.

High Wind in THOMAS, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 16:47:00 to 29-MAY-04 16:47:00 (MST)
Magnitude: 58 MG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Metal roofs ripped from buildings and several power poles were broken 5 miles east of Colby.

High Wind in SHERIDAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 17:00:00 to 29-MAY-04 19:00:00 (MST)
Magnitude: 65 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

8-inch diameter branches down.  Sustained winds 50-55 mph.

High Wind in RAWLINS, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 18:00:00 to 29-MAY-04 20:00:00 (MST)
Magnitude: 55 EG
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERMAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 15:36:00 to 29-MAY-04 15:36:00 (MST)
Location: GOODLAND
Magnitude: 67 MG
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Thunderstorm Wind in NORTON, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 18:39:00 to 29-MAY-04 18:39:00 (MST)
Location: NORTON
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

3 to 4 inch diameter branches down.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERMAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 15:23:00 to 29-MAY-04 15:23:00 (MST)
Location: RULETON
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in DECATUR, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 17:05:00 to 29-MAY-04 17:05:00 (MST)
Location: OBERLIN
Magnitude: 56 EG
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in NORTON, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 17:50:00 to 29-MAY-04 17:50:00 (MST)
Location: NORTON
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Tree limbs down. Parts of town without power for an hour.

Thunderstorm Wind in RAWLINS, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 16:30:00 to 29-MAY-04 16:30:00 (MST)
Location: ATWOOD
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Large limbs down.

Thunderstorm Wind in THOMAS, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 16:30:00 to 29-MAY-04 16:30:00 (MST)
Location: COLBY
Magnitude: 59 MG
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Zero visibility in blowing dirt.

Hail in CHEYENNE, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 15:55:00 to 29-MAY-04 15:55:00 (MST)
Location: ST FRANCIS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail covered the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERMAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 16:11:00 to 29-MAY-04 16:11:00 (MST)
Location: GOODLAND
Magnitude: 61 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Widespread tree damage in town with 6-8 inch diameter branches down. Near zero visibility in blowing dirt resulted in a fatal accident on interstate-70 when the driver slowed down due to reduced visibility and was hit from behind.

Thunderstorm Wind in RAWLINS, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 16:15:00 to 29-MAY-04 16:15:00 (MST)
Location: MC DONALD
Magnitude: 54 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Numerous trees uprooted, large limbs broken.

Thunderstorm Wind in NORTON, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 17:30:00 to 29-MAY-04 17:30:00 (MST)
Location: CLAYTON
Magnitude: 61 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in RAWLINS, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 16:30:00 to 29-MAY-04 16:30:00 (MST)
Location: ATWOOD
Magnitude: 61 EG
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

24-inch diameter live tree snapped off 1 foot above ground.  tree was 35 feet tall.

Thunderstorm Wind in NORTON, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 18:33:00 to 29-MAY-04 18:33:00 (MST)
Location: LENORA
Magnitude: 58 MG
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind in WALLACE, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 16:00:00 to 29-MAY-04 18:00:00 (MST)
Magnitude: 56 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Strong outflow from thunderstorms over Sherman and Kit Carson counties produced winds of 65 mph and broke tree branches upo to 18 inches in diameter in the town of Wallace.

Thunderstorm Wind in RAWLINS, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 16:35:00 to 29-MAY-04 16:35:00 (MST)
Location: ATWOOD
Magnitude: 56 EG
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Roofs heavily damaged, cars described as destroyed, 1 foot diameter trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERMAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 15:48:00 to 29-MAY-04 15:48:00 (MST)
Location: RULETON
Magnitude: 59 MG
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

Zero visibility on highway 24 for 15 minutes

Thunderstorm Wind in THOMAS, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 16:14:00 to 29-MAY-04 16:14:00 (MST)
Location: BREWSTER
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in DECATUR, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 17:26:00 to 29-MAY-04 17:26:00 (MST)
Location: OBERLIN
Magnitude: 56 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tree fell through a wall of a house, heavily damaging the home.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERMAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 15:59:00 to 29-MAY-04 15:59:00 (MST)
Location: GOODLAND ARPT
Magnitude: 53 MG
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Measured by GLD ASOS

Thunderstorm Wind in RAWLINS, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 17:15:00 to 29-MAY-04 17:15:00 (MST)
Location: ATWOOD
Magnitude: 61 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

1-foot diameter limbs broken.  Roof and wall damage to old buildings.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERMAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 15:28:00 to 29-MAY-04 15:28:00 (MST)
Location: RULETON
Magnitude: 57 MG
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERMAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 15:59:00 to 29-MAY-04 15:59:00 (MST)
Location: GOODLAND
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

3 inch diameter branches broken, minor roof damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in RAWLINS, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 16:56:00 to 29-MAY-04 16:56:00 (MST)
Location: ATWOOD
Magnitude: 56 MG
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERMAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 15:27:00 to 29-MAY-04 15:27:00 (MST)
Location: RULETON
Magnitude: 55 MG
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

Zero visibility in blowing dirt

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERMAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 15:45:00 to 29-MAY-04 15:45:00 (MST)
Location: GOODLAND
Magnitude: 58 MG
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Thunderstorm Wind in DECATUR, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 17:28:00 to 29-MAY-04 17:28:00 (MST)
Location: NORCATUR
Magnitude: 56 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Two power poles snapped, lines fell on haystacks and started fires.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERMAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 15:48:00 to 29-MAY-04 15:48:00 (MST)
Location: GOODLAND
Magnitude: 74 MG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in CHEYENNE, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 16:06:00 to 29-MAY-04 16:06:00 (MST)
Location: BIRD CITY
Magnitude: 52 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Minor tree damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in DECATUR, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 17:25:00 to 29-MAY-04 17:25:00 (MST)
Location: CEDAR BLUFFS
Magnitude: 69 EG
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Small building destroyed and boy was struck in the head by flying 2x4 board.  Boy sent to hospital.

High Wind in GRAHAM, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 17:00:00 to 29-MAY-04 18:00:00 (MST)
Magnitude: 56 EG
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Ten inch diameter branches broken.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERMAN, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-04 16:12:00 to 29-MAY-04 16:12:00 (MST)
Location: GOODLAND ARPT
Magnitude: 58 MG
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Measured by GLD ASOS.