As a line of showers and thunderstorms moved through Middle Tennessee during the late evening hours of Sunday, January 22nd through the early morning hours of Monday, January 23rd, several thunderstorms reached severe thresholds resulting in damage across 13 different counties in the mid state.
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 OHX wrote it up.
As a line of showers and thunderstorms moved through Middle Tennessee during the late evening hours of Sunday, January 22nd through the early morning hours of Monday, January 23rd, several thunderstorms reached severe thresholds resulting in damage across 13 different counties in the mid state.
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 Nashville, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 22, 11:25 PM CST, 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 1125 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012 .UPDATE...ADDED AVIATION SECTION FOR 06Z TAF'S. && .AVIATION...BNA/CSV...LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS RACING INTO MIDDLE TENNESSEE AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT. EXPECT WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS OVERNIGHT, WITH A MODERATE SEVERE POTENTIAL. IN ADDITION TO LOW CIGS AND SOME LLWS, STRONG MICROBURSTS ARE POSSIBLE GIVEN THE STRONG LOW-LEVEL WINDS. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 851 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012/ UPDATE...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED IN THE MID STATE OVERNIGHT...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE A REAL POSSIBILITY. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS OVER EASTERN ARKANSAS EARLY TONIGHT AND THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE LINE HAS SHOWN AN ENHANCED TENDENCY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ROTATING SUPERCELLS. TORNADO WARNINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ISSUED TONIGHT BY THE WEATHER OFFICE IN LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS AND DOPPLER SRM DATA HAVE SHOWN SOME IMPRESSIVE GATE-TO- GATE COUPLETS WITH SOME OF THESE STORMS. A SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT WAS RECENTLY RE-RELEASED ADVISING MIDDLE TENNESSEANS TO REMAIN VIGILANT OVERNIGHT AND TO LISTEN FOR SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS. HIGH HELICITY ENVIRONMENT CONTINUES IN DEVELOP IN THE MID STATE, AHEAD OF APPROACHING COLD FRONT AND ALL PARTS OF OUR FORECAST AREA REMAIN UNDER AN SPC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK, RANGING FROM A "SLIGHT RISK" OVER EASTERN SECTIONS TO A "MODERATE RISK" WEST. HAVE UPDATED GRIDDED FORECAST DATA TO KEEP CONDITIONS CLOUDIER LONGER (INTO THE MIDDLE PART OF MONDAY), AND HAVE MADE SOME CHANGES TO HOURLY TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT DATA TO FAVOR AN EASTWARD PROGRESSION OF WHAT CURRENTLY SHOWS UP ON MSAS DATA (I.E., WARM AHEAD OF MAIN LINE WITH ONLY MODEST COOLING AND LOWERING OF DEW POINTS BEHIND IT). EVEN THOUGH CHANGES TO ZFP ARE SMALL, WILL GO AHEAD AND SEND OUT AN UPDATED ZFP SHORTLY. && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST MONDAY FOR TNZ005>011-022>034- 056>066-075-077>080-093>095. && ROSE
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 1204 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012 TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-231000- STEWART-MONTGOMERY-ROBERTSON-SUMNER-MACON-CLAY-PICKETT-BENTON- HOUSTON-HUMPHREYS-DICKSON-CHEATHAM-DAVIDSON-WILSON-TROUSDALE- SMITH-JACKSON-PUTNAM-OVERTON-FENTRESS-PERRY-HICKMAN-LEWIS- WILLIAMSON-MAURY-MARSHALL-RUTHERFORD-CANNON-DE KALB-WHITE- CUMBERLAND-BEDFORD-COFFEE-WARREN-GRUNDY-VAN BUREN-WAYNE-LAWRENCE- GILES- 1204 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST MONDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST MONDAY. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR LOCATIONS AROUND NASHVILLE AND TO THE WEST THROUGH TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO THE EAST. A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS THE AREA LATE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. STRONG TO DAMAGING STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS ARE THE MAIN THREAT...BUT WIND FIELDS ARE SUCH THAT SUPERCELLS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES MAY ALSO OCCUR. MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV OR BY LISTENING TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT HIGH WINDS...ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT CAUSE DAMAGE...TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NASHVILLE. REPORTS FROM TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED TONIGHT ALSO PER THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. 31
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 823 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012 TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-230830- STEWART-MONTGOMERY-ROBERTSON-SUMNER-MACON-CLAY-PICKETT-BENTON- HOUSTON-HUMPHREYS-DICKSON-CHEATHAM-DAVIDSON-WILSON-TROUSDALE- SMITH-JACKSON-PUTNAM-OVERTON-FENTRESS-PERRY-HICKMAN-LEWIS- WILLIAMSON-MAURY-MARSHALL-RUTHERFORD-CANNON-DE KALB-WHITE- CUMBERLAND-BEDFORD-COFFEE-WARREN-GRUNDY-VAN BUREN-WAYNE-LAWRENCE- GILES- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...DOVER...CLARKSVILLE...SPRINGFIELD... GALLATIN...LAFAYETTE...CELINA...BYRDSTOWN...CAMDEN...ERIN... WAVERLY...DICKSON...ASHLAND CITY...NASHVILLE...LEBANON... MOUNT JULIET...HARTSVILLE...CARTHAGE...GAINESBORO...COOKEVILLE... LIVINGSTON...JAMESTOWN...LOBELVILLE...CENTERVILLE...HOHENWALD... FRANKLIN...BRENTWOOD...COLUMBIA...LEWISBURG...MURFREESBORO... WOODBURY...SMITHVILLE...SPARTA...CROSSVILLE...SHELBYVILLE... TULLAHOMA...MANCHESTER...MCMINNVILLE...ALTAMONT...SPENCER... WAYNESBORO...LAWRENCEBURG...PULASKI 823 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012 ...A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK IS POSSIBLE IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE TONIGHT... ...CONDITIONS WILL FAVOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ISOLATED TORNADOES... ...VIGILANCE IS ADVISED OVERNIGHT... EARLY TONIGHT A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME SEVERE...WAS PUSHING ACROSS EASTERN ARKANSAS. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS ISSUED TORNADO WARNINGS FOR SEVERAL OF THESE STORMS...AND DAMAGE TO HOUSES AND TREES REPORTEDLY OCCURRED NEAR THE TOWN OF FORDYCE, ARKANSAS. CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES...AS THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES TO MARCH EASTWARD INTO MIDDLE TENNESSEE LATER TONIGHT. IT STILL LOOKS LIKE THE GREATEST CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES IN THE MID STATE WILL BE AFTER MIDNIGHT. NIGHTTIME TORNADOES ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS SINCE DARKNESS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THEM. IN ADDITION...IT IS THE TIME WHEN MOST PEOPLE ARE THINKING OF GOING TO BED. NOW IS THE TIME TO REVIEW YOUR SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY PLANS. KNOW WHERE YOUR SAFE SHELTER IS LOCATED AND HOW YOU ARE GOING TO RECEIVE WARNINGS IF ONE IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA. A BATTERY POWERED WEATHER RADIO IS ESPECIALLY USEFUL IF A POWER OUTAGE OCCURS. A BATTERY POWERED FLASH LIGHT CAN ALSO COME IN HANDY. TRAINED STORM SPOTTERS...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...ALONG WITH FIRE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ARE URGED TO REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER OR DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN NASHVILLE. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION REGARDING THIS POTENTIAL SEVERE WEATHER EVENT. 19
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
1140 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012
TNZ005>007-022>026-056>060-093>095-230630-
BENTON-CHEATHAM-DICKSON-GILES-HICKMAN-HOUSTON-HUMPHREYS-LAWRENCE-
LEWIS-MAURY-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-ROBERTSON-STEWART-WAYNE-WILLIAMSON-
1140 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BENTON...CHEATHAM...DICKSON...
GILES...HICKMAN...HOUSTON...HUMPHREYS...LAWRENCE...LEWIS...MAURY...
MONTGOMERY...PERRY...ROBERTSON...STEWART...WAYNE AND WILLIAMSON
COUNTIES...
AT 1130 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE TENNESSEE RIVER. MANY OF THE STORMS
WERE IN A LINE EXTENDING FROM NORTHWESTERN STEWART COUNTY...TO NEAR
JACKSON, TENNESSEE...AND INTO NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI. OTHER STRONG
STORMS WERE DEVELOPING AHEAD OF THE LINE OVER WESTERN PARTS OF MIDDLE
TENNESSEE...AS WELL AS JUST WEST OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER. ONE OF THE
STRONGEST STORMS WAS LOCATED IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...OVER ALCORN
COUNTY. THIS STORM WILL LIKELY AFFECT WAYNE COUNTY SHORTLY AFTER
MIDNIGHT....AND WILL LIKELY PRODUCE WIND GUSTS AS HIGH AS 50 MPH.
ANY OF THESE STRONG STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS
TO 50 MPH...AND HAIL. THE STORMS ARE MOVING RAPIDLY TO THE NORTHEAST
AT 50 MPH.
LAT...LON 3667 8786 3664 8784 3665 8708 3499 8702
3501 8797 3668 8802
19The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
25 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Power lines were reported to have been peeled off a home in the southeastern part of the county.
A few trees and power lines were downed across the county.
A carport was reported to have collapsed.
Several trees were downed across the county.
Several trees and power lines were downed across the county.
An estimated 60 mph wind gust was reported by a trained spotter one mile north of mile marker 163 on Interstate 40.
Several trees and power lines were downed across the county.
Amateur radio operator reported trees down near U.S. Highway 70 at Tennessee City, State Highway 48 North in the Mt. Lebabon Road area, and Steele Road. Also a newspaper reported that downed trees were reported in Burns and White Bluff.
A few trees were downed in the Coopertown area.
Several trees were downed across the county.
Trees fell on a UPS Truck at Mile Marker 61 Eastbound on Interstate 40. Specific details concerning any damage to the UPS Truck were unknown. The driver did not sustain any injuries.
A large tree was downed across road at the intersectioon of Crow Cut Road and Old Cox Pike.
Multiple trees were downed and power lines were blocking State Highway 48 North.
Trained spotter reported trees downed two miles east of Whitehouse at the intersection of Covington and Cross Plains Rd.
A large tree was reported downed at the intersection of Hillsboro Road and Bobby Drive.
A couple of trees were reported downed across county roads.
Several trees were downed across the county.
Several trees were blocking State Highway 25 at Halltown Road.
Trees were downed, completely blocking the road, at the intersection of Switchboard Road and Womack Road near the community of Oak Grove.
A tree was blocking a lane of New Shackle Road at Long Hollow Pike.
Power lines were downed at 1112 Douglas Place in Gallatin.
A trained spotter measured a 62 mph wind gust 4 miles northwest of Gallatin.
Trees were downed on Hillsboro Road across Dody Drive near Fairview.
A large tree was reported downed on State Highway 64 East coming from the Interstate 24 Wartrace area. Amateur radio reported that power outages occurred in southern portions of the county near the Pleasant Grove Community as the result of trees falling on power lines and or downed power lines.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, 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: 355321, 355322, 355324, 355402, 355403, 355200, 355996, 355404, 355198, 355405, 356318, 356320, 355406, 356070, 355407, 355564, 355971, 355981, 356325, 355565, 356313, 355566, 355567, 356044, 355568, 356073.