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.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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 Graves 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, 3 hours 55 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 710 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- 710 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 ISOLATED STORMS MAY PRODUCE SEVERE WIND GUSTS EARLY THIS MORNING WITH THE COLD FRONT'S PASSAGE ACROSS SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS. HOWEVER MOST STORMS WILL REMAIN BELOW SEVERE LIMITS. WINDS WILL BE STRONG THROUGHOUT THE REGION WITH GUSTS 30 TO 35 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... RELAY OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER REPORTS IS APPRECIATED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 703 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ILZ075>078-080>083-171345- EDWARDS IL-FRANKLIN IL-HAMILTON IL-JEFFERSON IL-PERRY IL-WABASH IL-WAYNE IL-WHITE IL- 703 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HAMILTON...FRANKLIN...WAYNE... PERRY AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS...AND EDWARDS...WHITE AND WABASH COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS UNTIL 745 AM CST... AT 658 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTH OF CISNE TO MOUNT VERNON TO WILLISVILLE...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... DU QUOIN...REND LAKE AREA...FAIRFIELD...CHRISTOPHER...BENTON... ALBION...MCLEANSBORO...CISNE...WAYNE CITY...SESSER...VALIER...WEST SALEM...WEST CITY...KEENES...NASON...BONNIE...SIMS...ST. JOHNS... JEFFERSONVILLE AND BELLE RIVE. 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 738 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ILZ084>086-088-089-MOZ086-087-171430- BOLLINGER MO-CAPE GIRARDEAU MO-JACKSON IL-JOHNSON IL-SALINE IL-UNION IL-WILLIAMSON IL- 738 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WILLIAMSON...UNION...SALINE... JOHNSON AND JACKSON COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...AND CAPE GIRARDEAU AND BOLLINGER COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI UNTIL 830 AM CST... AT 734 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM HURST TO ALTENBURG TO GRASSY...AND MOVING EAST AT 45 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... MARBLE HILL...CARBONDALE...HERRIN...CARTERVILLE...JACKSON... JOHNSTON CITY...MARION...JONESBORO...ANNA...HURST...BURFORDVILLE... CAMBRIA...CEDAR LAKE AREA...ENERGY...CRAINVILLE...GORDONVILLE... WARE...PITTSBURG...COBDEN AND GALATIA. 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 746 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ILZ077-078-081>083-INZ081-082-085-086-171445- EDWARDS IL-FRANKLIN IL-GIBSON IN-HAMILTON IL-PIKE IN-POSEY IN-VANDERBURGH IN-WABASH IL-WHITE IL- 746 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HAMILTON...FRANKLIN...EDWARDS... WHITE AND WABASH COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...AND GIBSON... PIKE...POSEY AND VANDERBURGH COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST INDIANA UNTIL 845 AM CST... AT 741 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ST. FRANCISVILLE TO 8 MILES NORTH OF ENFIELD TO BENTON...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 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 CARMEL...CARMI...PRINCETON...PETERSBURG...FORT BRANCH... OAKLAND CITY...ENFIELD...GRAYVILLE...CROSSVILLE...PATOKA...NORRIS CITY...OWENSVILLE...NEW HARMONY...POSEYVILLE...CYNTHIANA... WINSLOW...HAUBSTADT...BROWNS...ALLENDALE AND BELLMONT. 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 807 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ILZ087-090>094-KYZ003>005-007-010-014-MOZ110>112-114-171515- GALLATIN-POPE-HARDIN-ALEXANDER-PULASKI-MASSAC-CARLISLE-BALLARD- MCCRACKEN-LIVINGSTON-CRITTENDEN-UNION KY-STODDARD-SCOTT- MISSISSIPPI-NEW MADRID- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SHAWNEETOWN...GOLCONDA... ELIZABETHTOWN...CAIRO...MOUND CITY...METROPOLIS...BARDWELL... WICKLIFFE...PADUCAH...SMITHLAND...MARION...MORGANFIELD... BLOOMFIELD...SIKESTON...CHARLESTON...NEW MADRID 807 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY... A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING THROUGH THE AREA THIS MORNING. WINDS MAY GUST TO 40 TO 50 MPH WITH PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL...AND BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL. THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH. BY 900 AM...THE LINE SHOULD EXTEND FROM HENDERSON KENTUCKY...TO NEAR PADUCAH...TO NEW MADRID MISSOURI. PS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 851 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 INZ087-088-171515- SPENCER IN-WARRICK IN- 851 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WARRICK AND SPENCER COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST INDIANA UNTIL 915 AM CST... AT 850 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM DALE TO BOONVILLE TO EVANSVILLE TO 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF CORYDON...AND MOVING EAST...SOUTHEAST AT 55 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 50 AND 55 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE IMPACTED INCLUDE... BOONVILLE...NEWBURGH...ROCKPORT...DALE...SANTA CLAUS...EUREKA... GRANDVIEW...TENNYSON...GENTRYVILLE AND CHRISNEY. 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. SMITH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY 908 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 KYZ001>003-005>011-013-015-016-018>020-171615- FULTON-HICKMAN-CARLISLE-MCCRACKEN-GRAVES-LIVINGSTON-MARSHALL- CALLOWAY-CRITTENDEN-LYON-CALDWELL-WEBSTER-HOPKINS-HENDERSON- DAVIESS-MCLEAN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HICKMAN...CLINTON...BARDWELL... PADUCAH...MAYFIELD...SMITHLAND...BENTON...MURRAY...MARION... EDDYVILLE...PRINCETON...DIXON...MADISONVILLE...HENDERSON... OWENSBORO...CALHOUN 908 AM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY... A LINE OF STRONG STORMS WILL BE MOVING THROUGH THE AREA THIS MORNING. EXPECT WIND GUSTS TO NEAR 50 MPH AND ISOLATED HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN SIZE. BY 1015 AM...THE LINE OF STORMS WILL EXTEND FROM JUST SOUTH OF OWENSBORO...TO NEAR MADISONVILLE...TO NEAR MAYFIELD KENTUCKY. THE LINE IS MOVING EAST AT CLOSE TO 60 MPH. PS
The Paducah radar (KPAH), 33 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:46 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees and power lines were down along Kentucky Highways 80 and 1686. Trees were covering the whole road.
An outbuilding was destroyed. Debris from the wood-frame shed was carried across the street into a field. Farm equipment inside the shed was damaged. Power and phone lines were blown down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, 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: 356198, 358358.