Hail and Damaging Winds in Missouri, January 22, 2012

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Missouri, January 22, 2012
Start: 2012-01-22T19:45
End: 2012-01-22T21:32
Location: Missouri

January 22, 2012 · NWS PAH · 5 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: $90,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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 isolated damaging winds and large hail.

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, 3 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 22, 4:45 PM CST, 3 hours 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, 7 hours 29 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

Special weather statement, Jan 22, 4:12 PM CST, 3 hours 33 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
412 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-
100-107>112-114-230600-
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-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MOUNT VERNON...FAIRFIELD...ALBION...
MOUNT CARMEL...PINCKNEYVILLE...WEST FRANKFORT...MCLEANSBORO...
CARMI...CARBONDALE...HERRIN...HARRISBURG...SHAWNEETOWN...
JONESBORO...VIENNA...GOLCONDA...ELIZABETHTOWN...CAIRO...
MOUND CITY...METROPOLIS...FORT BRANCH...PETERSBURG...POSEYVILLE...
EVANSVILLE...BOONVILLE...ROCKPORT...HICKMAN...CLINTON...
BARDWELL...WICKLIFFE...PADUCAH...MAYFIELD...SMITHLAND...BENTON...
MURRAY...MARION...EDDYVILLE...CADIZ...PRINCETON...MORGANFIELD...
DIXON...MADISONVILLE...HOPKINSVILLE...HENDERSON...OWENSBORO...
CALHOUN...GREENVILLE...ELKTON...PERRYVILLE...MARBLE HILL...
CAPE GIRARDEAU...PIEDMONT...VAN BUREN...DONIPHAN...POPLAR BLUFF...
BLOOMFIELD...SIKESTON...CHARLESTON...NEW MADRID
412 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

...SEVERE WEATHER EVENT EXPECTED THIS EVENING...

A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO OUR REGION TONIGHT.

HAZARDS: DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE PRIMARY CONCERN THROUGHOUT THE
REGION...BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR TORNADOES IS SIGNIFICANT AS WELL. THE
GREATEST THREAT FOR TORNADOES WILL BE ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM
POPLAR BLUFF MISSOURI TO BENTON ILLINOIS TO MADISONVILLE KENTUCKY.
LARGE HAIL WILL BE A MORE ISOLATED THREAT. THE STORMS WILL ALSO
PRODUCE TORRENTIAL RAINFALL...WHICH COULD LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING
OVER PARTS OF THE AREA.

TIMING: THE BEST TIME FRAME FOR ANY SEVERE WEATHER AREA WIDE WILL BE
FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING OVER THE EASTERN OZARKS MOVING EAST OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN 9 PM AND MIDNIGHT AND EXIT EAST OF THE
PENNYRILE AND SOUTHWEST INDIANA AREA AROUND 3 AM MONDAY MORNING.

LOCATION: STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL RAPIDLY DEVELOP OR SPREAD
NORTH NORTHEAST INTO THE REGION EARLY THIS EVENING. AT THIS
TIME...IT APPEARS THAT THE INITIAL DEVELOPMENT WILL SPREAD NORTHWARD
INTO THE EASTERN OZARKS THEN RAPIDLY MOVE EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER BY MIDNIGHT AND EXIT THE EAST OF THE PENNYRILE AND SOUTHWEST
INDIANA AREA AROUND 3 AM MONDAY MORNING.

PREPARATION: INDIVIDUAL STORMS WILL BE MOVING OVER 50 MPH...SO THERE
WILL BE LITTLE TIME TO TAKE ACTION. REVIEW YOUR SEVERE WEATHER
SAFETY PLANS NOW...INCLUDING WHERE YOUR SAFE SHELTER IS LOCATED.
KNOW HOW YOU ARE GOING TO RECEIVE WARNINGS IF ONE IS ISSUED FOR
YOUR IMMEDIATE AREA. HAVE MULTIPLE MEANS OF RECEIVING THE LATEST
WEATHER INFORMATION.

PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION REGARDING THIS SEVERE
WEATHER EVENT VIA NOAA WEATHER RADIO...THE NWS PADUCAH KY WEBSITE
OR FACEBOOK PAGE AND LOCAL MEDIA SOURCES.

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 155 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:44 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind, 1 heavy rain, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Butler

When: January 22, 7:45 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Butler County, 7 mi NW of Poplar Bluff to Poplar Bluff
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.822, -90.490

About one inch of rain fell within an hour as a line of thunderstorms moved through. A trained spotter seven miles northwest of Poplar Bluff measured 1.35 inches in 45 minutes. At the Poplar Bluff airport, 0.89 inches was measured in an hour. Water was running over roadways. There were no reports of road closures or impassable roads.

Hail, Stoddard

When: January 22, 8:40 PM CST
Where: Stoddard County, Dudley
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.780, -90.100

Thunderstorm Wind, Stoddard

When: January 22, 8:48 PM CST
Where: Stoddard County, Dexter
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 36.800, -89.950

A large sign, about the size and height of a billboard sign, fell onto a vacant restaurant. The building sustained significant damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, New Madrid

When: January 22, 9:12 PM CST
Where: New Madrid County, Marston
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.520, -89.600

A camper trailer was overturned. The roof was blown off a mobile home. A shed was destroyed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mississippi

When: January 22, 9:32 PM CST
Where: Mississippi County, Charleston
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 36.920, -89.330

Damage was reported at the agricultural warehouse of a growers' association. The farm store and seed warehouse were totally destroyed. Both structures were large wood and metal storage sheds that were not of sturdy construction. The oil warehouse was damaged, but there were no leaks or ruptures.

What these are

Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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 Missouri in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Missouri, 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: 357084, 356375, 356594, 356376, 356595.