A line of thunderstorms raced east ahead of a cold front. The cold front trailed from a low pressure center over southern Lower Michigan southwest across the Middle Mississippi Valley.
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Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS PAH wrote it up.
A line of thunderstorms raced east ahead of a cold front. The cold front trailed from a low pressure center over southern Lower Michigan southwest across the Middle Mississippi Valley. A southwest low-level jet around 60 knots enhanced the potential for gusty winds. There was an isolated damaging wind gust in Wayne County. At mid levels, a progressive 500 mb shortwave trough extended from north to south across the Plains states.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Paducah, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 17, 5:50 AM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 550 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 .UPDATE... REVISED AVIATION DISCUSSION FOR 12Z TAFS. && .DISCUSSION... LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING LSX AREA IS IN ASSOCIATION WITH SURFACE LOW THAT WILL BE MOVING INTO CHICAGO/NW INDIANA AREA BY 12Z. THIS WILL TAKE THE LINE GENERALLY NORTH/EAST OF OUR FA...THOUGH IT MAY FLIRT WITH OUR NRN COUNTIES. NO WATCH FORTHCOMING AFTER COLLAB WITH SPC. STRONG AND GUSTY SLYS-SWLYS WILL CONTINUE TIL FROPA CAUSES WIND SHIFT WITH STILL STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...THOUGH THEY APPEAR TO BE/REMAIN JUST BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA. PROBABLY CAN EXPECT TO SEE APPROX 1/2 INCH TOTAL QPF ON AVERAGE AS COLD FRONT IS DRAGGED THRU MUCH OF FA BY 18Z. IT MAY TAKE LONGER INTO THE PM HOURS TO GET THRU THE FAR SOUTHEAST SO WE LINGERED THE CHANCE OF THUNDER THERE THRU PM HOURS/OR UNTIL THE FRONT MAKES PASSAGE. IT SHOULD BE OUT OF THE ENTIRE FA BY THIS EVENING. MUCH COLDER AIR INFILTRATES BEHIND THE FRONT AND SETTLES IN DURING THE TUE NIGHT-WED NIGHT TIME FRAME. TEMPS START TO MODERATE THURSDAY...AND THE NEXT CHANCE OF PCPN ENTERS THE FORECAST FRIDAY. FORTUNATELY IT LOOKS NOT TO GET REALLY GOING TIL PM HOURS OR LATER...AFTER BLAYER TEMPS HAVE WARMED SUFFICIENTLY...THOUGH WE INCLUDE A CHANCE OF FLURRIES/SPRINKLES IN THE COOLER AM HOURS AS WELL. PCPN ENDS WEST TO EAST FRI NIGHT AS THE SYSTEM DEPARTS. AFTER THAT THE MAIN CHALLENGE IN THE EXTENDED FORECAST IS THE SYSTEM THAT TAKES SHAPE EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE ECMWF IS MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN THE GFS BUT BOTH SUGGEST A HEALTHY STORM SYSTEM AFFECTS THE FA IN THE EARLY WORKWEEK AND THIS INCLUDES THE CHANCE OF THUNDER. && .AVIATION... A COLD FRONT WILL PASS ACROSS THE REGION THIS MORNING. A NARROW BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS FORECAST IMMEDIATELY ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT. SOUTH/SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE. WINDS WILL REMAIN STRONG THROUGH THE DAY...15 TO 20 KNOTS SUSTAINED WITH GUSTS OF 25 TO 30 KNOTS. MVFR CEILINGS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY. A TREND TOWARDS DIMINISHING WINDS AND CLEARING SKIES IS EXPECTED THIS EVENING. && .PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KY...NONE. MO...NONE. IL...NONE. IN...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 419 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087- 100-107>112-114-181100- JEFFERSON-WAYNE IL-EDWARDS-WABASH-PERRY IL-FRANKLIN-HAMILTON- WHITE-JACKSON-WILLIAMSON-SALINE-GALLATIN-UNION IL-JOHNSON-POPE- HARDIN-ALEXANDER-PULASKI-MASSAC-GIBSON-PIKE-POSEY-VANDERBURGH- WARRICK-SPENCER-FULTON-HICKMAN-CARLISLE-BALLARD-MCCRACKEN-GRAVES- LIVINGSTON-MARSHALL-CALLOWAY-CRITTENDEN-LYON-TRIGG-CALDWELL- UNION KY-WEBSTER-HOPKINS-CHRISTIAN-HENDERSON-DAVIESS-MCLEAN- MUHLENBERG-TODD-PERRY MO-BOLLINGER-CAPE GIRARDEAU-WAYNE MO-CARTER- RIPLEY-BUTLER-STODDARD-SCOTT-MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID- 419 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY...AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS TODAY BUT SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED. GUSTY SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST WITH GUSTS NEAR 30 MPH AT TIMES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY ANOTHER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS FORECAST MONDAY BUT SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 409 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ILZ075-171045- JEFFERSON IL- 409 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS UNTIL 445 AM CST... AT 405 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES WEST OF WAMAC...OR 6 MILES WEST OF CENTRALIA...MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... DIX... RURAL PORTIONS OF NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY. THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 440 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ILZ076-171115- WAYNE IL- 440 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN WAYNE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS UNTIL 515 AM CST... AT 435 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTH OF HELM...OR 13 MILES EAST OF SALEM...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN. LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... RINARD... MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHERN WAYNE COUNTY. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 620 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ILZ075-076-080-171300- JEFFERSON IL-PERRY IL-WAYNE IL- 620 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WAYNE...PERRY AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS UNTIL 700 AM CST... AT 615 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ODIN TO SPARTA...AND MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... MOUNT VERNON...WOODLAWN...TAMAROA...CISNE...BLUFORD...DIX... JOHNSONVILLE...WALTONVILLE...NASON...INA...BONNIE AND KEENES. THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 641 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ILZ084-MOZ076-171330- JACKSON IL-PERRY MO- 641 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR JACKSON COUNTY IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...AND PERRY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI UNTIL 730 AM CST... AT 637 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM BREMEN TO KNOB LICK...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS OF TO 50 TO 55 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... PERRYVILLE...AVA...ELKVILLE...ALTENBURG...LITHIUM...SILVER LAKE... CAMPBELL HILL...LONGTOWN...VERGENNES...DOWELL...FROHNA AND GORHAM. THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY.
The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 69 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:00 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
One to two dozen shingles were blown off a home. A light pole was broken and blown down. An evergreen tree was down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, January 2012
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 356202.