This Day in Weather History June 4

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

2005: A supercell thunderstorm moved from northern Missouri into Ringgold and Decatur counties producing baseball to softball sized hail with 4.5 inch diameter stones reported southwest of Kellerton. A few weak tornadoes were also reported.

1998: Rain mixed with sleet was reported in the morning in far northwestern Iowa at Ocheyedan and Rock Rapids. Although ice accumulation was only a trace, this stands as the only time winter precipitation has ever been officially recorded in Iowa in the month of June and it has never been recorded in July or August.

1890: A tornado produced F3 damage along a short path near Chester in far northeastern Iowa. The tornado struck a school 3 miles south of Chester injuring a teacher and ten students, one of whom remained in critical condition for several days. This is one of only a handful of times on record in Iowa that a significant tornado has struck a school while it was in session.

1844: A pair of powerful tornadoes moved through eastern Iowa and into Illinois. One tornado swept across Clinton County striking the northern edge of DeWitt and killing one person with several others injured. The other tornado moved rapidly along the Muscatine/Scott County border killing one person and injuring several others north of Muscatine. These are the earliest killer tornadoes recorded in Iowa.