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.
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 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, isolated large hail, and a couple of tornadoes.
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, 5 hours 7 minutes earlier.
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 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.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
923 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0921 PM HAIL PINCKNEYVILLE 38.08N 89.38W
01/22/2012 M0.88 INCH PERRY IL TRAINED SPOTTER
NICKLE SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN THE COMMUNITY.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
925 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0923 PM TSTM WND GST MURPHYSBORO 37.77N 89.34W
01/22/2012 M60 MPH JACKSON IL PUBLIC
60 MPH WIND GUST REPORTED ON WEST SIDE OF TOWN.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
926 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0912 PM TSTM WND GST MURPHYSBORO 37.77N 89.34W
01/22/2012 M60.00 MPH JACKSON IL PUBLIC
60 MPH WIND GUST REPORTED ON WEST SIDE OF TOWN.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
929 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0920 PM TSTM WND GST CARBONDALE 37.72N 89.22W
01/22/2012 M55 MPH JACKSON IL ASOS
ASOS MEASUREMENT. WIND SHIFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE WIND
GUST.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
931 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0927 PM TSTM WND GST DU QUOIN 38.00N 89.24W
01/22/2012 M42 MPH PERRY IL TRAINED SPOTTER
MEASURED GUST BY STORM SPOTTER.
&&
SMITTYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
947 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0938 PM HAIL MOUNT VERNON 38.32N 88.91W
01/22/2012 M1.25 INCH JEFFERSON IL PUBLIC
HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN THE COMMUNITY.
&&
SMITTYThe Paducah radar (KPAH), 24 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:50 UTC.
14 thunderstorm wind, 5 hail, 3 heavy rain, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Downed trees were blocking Highway 473.
A gas station canopy was damaged. A large metal pole supporting a business sign was snapped. The businesses were located on U.S. Highway 62 just west of Interstate 24.
A tv/radio antenna was blown down.
A Kentucky mesonet site measured 1.01 inches of rain in 30 minutes.
A large metal shed sustained moderate damage. At least one metal exterior wall panel was pushed in, and the roof was partially blown off. A large hay barn was heavily damaged. A side wall of the barn was completely blown off. Several trees were blown down, and a couple trees were snapped off.
Several roads were flooded, but all of them were reopened by the morning commute.
Peak winds were estimated near 95 mph. Hundreds of trees were uprooted or snapped. Windows were blown out of a house, and shingles were damaged. Shutters were ripped off the house. Three barns were destroyed. Two garages were levelled. A section of roof was peeled off another garage. The porch roof of a business in Hazel was destroyed. A large tree fell across a truck.
A swath of large hail occurred just southwest of Murray. Hail was up to the size of hen eggs a couple miles southwest of the city.
Large trees were down or uprooted just west of Highway 109 near Charleston.
A trained spotter estimated a wind gust to 60 mph. There were power outages in the area.
Kentucky Highway 256 was closed from Kentucky Highway 140 to the Long Falls Creek bridge due to downed power lines and power poles.
Two mobile homes were destroyed, and many trees were blown over. One of the mobile homes was abandoned, and the residents of the other mobile home were not at home. One of the mobile homes was left in the middle of a road about four miles north of Calhoun. Six power poles were blown over on Kentucky Highway 81 about six miles northeast of Calhoun. Kentucky Highway 140 was closed due to power lines and power poles across the road. A barn was destroyed less than a mile from the Daviess County line. The damage swath extended from just north of Calhoun northeast to the Daviess County line.
A wind gust to 63 mph was measured at a Kentucky mesonet site.
A large section of roof was blown off a house. The roof was a flat roof with no anchors and a rather large overhang. Debris fell on one occupant of the house, who was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries such as scrapes and bruises. The house was damaged extensively. Nearby, three barns and a large tool shed were damaged or destroyed. Two of the barns were old wooden barns that were pushed and leaning over, but still on their foundations. The third barn was an old wooden barn that was destroyed. The tool shed was a steel-frame structure that was heavily damaged on one end. Beams were bent, and siding was torn off. Several small trees were uprooted along Highway 81, and one tree was snapped. Emergency responders could not reach the damaged house and injured person until debris was cleared from the road. All debris was blown toward the east-northeast. The damage swath was one-half to three-quarters of a mile wide.
Small tree limbs were reported down at this same location. Winds were estimated near 55 mph.
A mobile home received extensive damage.
Several power transmission poles were blown over a few miles east of Owensboro. A carport was blown away near Thruston.
Minor flooding was reported on Highway 800 at an intersection in Crofton.
Several trees were blown down. A barn and several greenhouses were damaged. Some shingles were blown off houses. The roof was blown off a garage that was part of a business. A camper trailer about 25 feet long was overturned and destroyed. A pool was damaged, and a grain bin was damaged. The tornado followed a path very close to Highway 107 before ending on the northeast side of Clifty. Peak winds were estimated near 80 mph. The average path width was 150 yards.
Damage was mainly to trees and a mobile home roof.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kentucky, 2012Warnings 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: 356310, 356303, 356562, 356309, 357086, 356568, 358354, 356304, 356502, 356518, 356305, 356514, 356308, 356307, 356559, 356311, 356315, 356316, 356587, 356317, 358353, 358364, 356571, 358355.