Storm reports for May 16, 2004

IndependentNot affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports. Data through November 6, 2026. Methodology

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Other storms on May 16 →

On May 16, 2004, 121 hail, 32 damaging-wind and 16 tornado reports were logged across 14 states. The largest hail reported was 3.00″ (teacup size) in Gove County, KS.

Storm day runs 7 a.m. to 7 a.m. Eastern (12:00–12:00 UTC), the convention the Storm Prediction Center uses. Radar hail estimates start October 2019.

Storm reports by state

Cities with hail reported within 5 miles

Hail reports (121)

Damage, injuries and deaths

National Weather Service offices recorded about $760,000 in property damage and $522,000 in crop damage from hail, thunderstorm wind and tornadoes across the US on this storm day (169 events in 14 states). Injuries and deaths are those the events caused directly.

What the National Weather Service wrote

• Howard County, NE (near Cushing) · Tornado F0 · $250,000
  “A tornado set down west of Cushing and traveled eastward. It damaged or destroyed a few outbuildings and damaged one home.”
• Stafford County, KS (near Macksville) · Thunderstorm wind 90 mph · $50,000
  “A pivot irrigation center was blown over”
• Hanson County, SD (near Emery) · Thunderstorm wind 70 mph · $50,000
  “Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree and power line damage. Numerous large trees were blown down, two of which heavily damaged a car and the roof of a house. Extensive cleanup of trees and debris was needed.”
• Holt County, NE (near Amelia) · Tornado F1 · $45,000
  “The tornado took down power poles and uprooted numerous trees south of state highway 95 and then hit a farmstead as it crossed the highway about 3 miles south of Amelia ripping off the roof of a metal outbuilding and depositing it on the road.”
• Cottonwood County, MN (near Westbrook) · Thunderstorm wind 79 mph · $30,000
  “Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including numerous trees blown down. One pine tree penetrated the roof of a house. The house suffered other wind damage, including to the porch. The garage was heavily damaged and farm equipment was damaged.”
• Murray County, MN (near Hadley) · Tornado F0 · $20,000
  “A tornado destroyed a 48 foot grain bin. The tornado also caused widespread tree damage, including several trees blown down.”

Event narratives from NWS Storm Data, shortened. Up to six per day, chosen by deaths, injuries, damage and size.

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Storm Events Database, as entered by National Weather Service offices; data through July 31, 2026. Damage is in dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation.

Guides: What radar-estimated hail (MESH) is and isn't · Storm reports: preliminary vs final