Damaging Winds in Indiana, January 22, 2012

Name: Damaging Winds in Indiana, January 22, 2012
Start: 2012-01-22T22:52
End: 2012-01-22T23:30
Location: Indiana

January 22, 2012 · NWS PAH · 6 events in 4 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $3,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS PAH wrote it up.

A potent upper-level trough moved east into eastern Kansas and Oklahoma, before assuming a negative tilt and accelerating east-northeast across the Mid-Mississippi and Lower Ohio Valleys. The associated surface low tracked northeast from Kansas across northern Missouri to southern Wisconsin. Ahead of the low and trough, a south-southwesterly low-level jet in excess of 50 knots expanded east across the Mid-Mississippi Valley. An expansive quasi-linear convective system formed along the lead cold front trailing southward from the surface low. Despite rather meager instability, very strong low and mid-level wind fields resulted in organized storm structures with pockets of damaging wind.

What forecasters said that day

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 22, 4:45 PM CST, 6 hours 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 22, 4:45 PM CST, 6 hours 7 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
445 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

A NUMBER OF WEATHER ISSUES TO DEAL WITH OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

AREAS OF DENSE FOG WILL CONTINUE TO BE CONCERN UNTIL COLD FRONT
SWEEPS THROUGH THE REGION LATER THIS EVENING...AS VERY RICH LOW LVL
AIR CONTS TO PUNCH N UP THE MS VALLEY. WILL NOT ISSUE ADVISORY AT
THIS TIME BECAUSE AM NOT SEEING WIDESPREAD VSBYS BELOW 1/4...WITH
MOST RUNNING FROM 1/2 TO 1 1/2 IN SE MO AND SRN MO. WILL NEED TO
MONITOR AS THE SUN GOES DOWN AND 1/4 MI VSBYS MAY BECOME MORE
WIDESPREAD.

LATE THIS AFTERNOON/EARLY TONIGHT...THINGS REALLY BEGIN TO CHANGE
AND GET INTERESTING FROM A SEVERE WEATHER ASPECT OUT JUST TO OUR
WEST. THE AS A VIGOROUS STORM SYSTEM BEGINS TO LIFT NORTHEAST OUT OF
THE CENTRAL PLAINS...AND THE DYNAMICS WITH THIS SYSTEM BEGIN TO COME
TOGETHER LATE .THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL BEGIN THE RAMP UP
QUICKLY EARLY TONIGHT AS SFC DEW POINTS SURGE INTO THE
50S...POSSIBLY TO NEAR 60. THIS...ALONG WITH THE UPPER DYNAMICS AND
COLD AIR ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER LOW...WITH CREATE RAPIDLY
LOWERING OF INSTABILITY. THE COMBINATION OF THE WINDS ALOFT AND
INSURGENCE OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND SFC PRE FRONTAL TROF MOVING IN
FROM THE WEST WILL SET THE STAGE FOR A POTENTIAL WIDESPREAD SEVERE
WEATHER OUTBREAK. DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE HIGHEST THREAT ALONG
THE LINE A BOW SEGMENTS...BUT SFC BASED SUPERCELLS CANNOT BE RULED
OUT THAT COULD PRODUCE A FEW TORNADOES AND LARGE HAIL.

MAIN TIME FRAME FOR OUR AREA WILL BE FR OM 01 OR 02Z FAR WEST
/SE/MO/ TO JUST BEFORE OR AFTER MIDNIGHT FROM PAH EAST. FRONT SHOULD
END ALL PRECIP RAPIDLY FROM THE WEST BY MORNING.

SHOULD BE A BREAK IN THE PRECIP  MON AND TUE WITH TEMPS IN THE 40S
AND 50S.

HOWEVER...NEXT IN A SERIES OF SRN BRANCH SHORT WAVES WILL ARRIVE MY
ABOUT THE MID WEEK TIME FRAME. WILL BRING THE NEXT ROUND OF RAIN.
THIS SYSTEM IS NOW EXPECTED TO STAY FAR ENOUGH SOUTH SO THAT WE
WOULD GET MAINLY RAIN...AS OPPOSED TO STORMS...IN THE COOL SECTOR
NORTH OF THE LOW.

&&

.AVIATION...
VERY DIFFICULT FORECAST WITH THIS PACKAGE...MAINLY IN TIMING AND
LOCATION OF SURFACE BASED LOW/PRE FRONTAL TROF PRIOR TO AND IN THE
VICINITY OF THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.
UTILIZING THE NAM-WRF GUIDANCE...VLIFR/IFR CEILING AND IFR/MVFR
VISIBILITY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DOMINATE THE WFO PAH TAF SITES
UP TO AND INCLUDING THE INTRODUCTION OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY THIS
EVENING. AT THIS TIME...I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DETAIL DOWN TO A 2 TO 3
HOUR PERIOD AS TO WHEN TO EXPECT STORMS TO HIT. ANY OF THESE STORMS
WILL BE CAPABLE OF SEVERE WIND GUSTS OVER 50 KTS...ONE INCH HAIL AND
WE CANNOT RULE OUT A FEW TORNADOES IN THE TAF REGION TONIGHT...ESP
KPAH TO KOWB REGIONS.

WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY WITH THIS PRODUCT.

&&

.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KY...NONE.
MO...NONE.
IL...NONE.
IN...NONE.
&&

MEFFERT

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 22, 12:16 PM CST, 10 hours 36 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1216 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-
100-107>112-114-231115-
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-
1216 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS...SOUTHWEST INDIANA...WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST
MISSOURI.

...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT OVER MOST
OF THE REGION.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AHEAD OF A
VIGOROUS MID LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND BETWEEN AN ASSOCIATED
WARM AND COLD FRONT THIS EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

RIGHT NOW, IT APPEARS THE MOST LIKELY TIMING OF SEVERE WEATHER WOULD
BE FROM AROUND 8 PM TO MIDNIGHT WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND
FAR SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS...THEN EAST OF THE RIVER BETWEEN MIDNIGHT
AND 3AM.

DAMAGING WIND GUSTS WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT AREA WIDE...BUT
ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE OVER THE EXTREME
SOUTHERN SECTIONS MAINLY AT THE ONSET OF THE EVENT. PLEASE REFER
TO THE LATEST SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND WARNINGS FOR MORE
DETAILS ON THIS UPCOMING OVERNIGHT EVENT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION THIS EVENING
INTO THE EARLY OVERNIGHT HOURS.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 22, 10:24 PM CST, 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1024 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1008 PM     TSTM WND GST     WEST PADUCAH            37.08N 88.74W
01/22/2012  M53 MPH          MCCRACKEN          KY   ASOS

            MEASURED WIND GUST AT BARKLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT.

&&

SMITTY

Local storm report, Jan 22, 10:31 PM CST, 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1031 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0955 PM     TSTM WND GST     OAKTON                  36.65N 89.09W
01/22/2012  M40 MPH          HICKMAN            KY   EMERGENCY MNGR

            LATE REPORT...PEA SIZE HAIL REPORTED WITH THE STORM.

&&

SMITTY

Local storm report, Jan 22, 10:46 PM CST, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1046 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1029 PM     TSTM WND GST     REIDLAND                37.01N 88.53W
01/22/2012  M50 MPH          MCCRACKEN          KY   PUBLIC

&&

SMITTY

Local storm report, Jan 22, 10:48 PM CST, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1048 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1035 PM     TSTM WND GST     SHARPE                  36.97N 88.46W
01/22/2012  M55 MPH          MARSHALL           KY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PEA SIZE HAIL REPORTED WITH THE STORM.

&&

SMITTY

Local storm report, Jan 22, 10:50 PM CST, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1050 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1000 PM     TSTM WND GST     CALVERT CITY            37.03N 88.35W
01/22/2012  M54 MPH          MARSHALL           KY   NWS EMPLOYEE

            LATE REPORT.

&&

SMITTY

Local storm report, Jan 22, 10:52 PM CST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1052 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1012 PM     TSTM WND GST     METROPOLIS              37.15N 88.71W
01/22/2012  M60.00 MPH       MASSAC             IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LARGE TREE DOWN.

&&

SMITTY

The radar

The Evansville,IN radar (KVWX), 12 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:53 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Posey

When: January 22, 10:52 PM CST
Where: Posey County, 3 mi WNW of Poseyville
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.187, -87.831

Thunderstorm Wind, Posey

When: January 22, 10:56 PM CST
Where: Posey County, Mt Vernon
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.930, -87.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Posey

When: January 22, 11:01 PM CST
Where: Posey County, St Philip
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.980, -87.720

Thunderstorm Wind, Gibson

When: January 22, 11:10 PM CST
Where: Gibson County, Princeton
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Unknown
Coordinates: 38.350, -87.570

A wind gust was estimated near 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Vanderburgh

When: January 22, 11:15 PM CST
Where: Vanderburgh County, Evansville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 37.980, -87.550

A few trees were blown down throughout the city. A wind gust to 57 mph was measured at a television station downtown.

Thunderstorm Wind, Warrick

When: January 22, 11:30 PM CST
Where: Warrick County, Chandler
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.050, -87.370

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Indiana in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Indiana, January 2012

Sources

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: 356298, 356296, 356295, 356484, 356294, 356300.