During the evening hours on the 29th of January, low pressure across the southern plains began to intensify and move towards the western Great Lakes. A squall line developed during the evening hours and strengthened after midnight as it moved into western Kentucky and southern Illinois.
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 LMK wrote it up.
During the evening hours on the 29th of January, low pressure across the southern plains began to intensify and move towards the western Great Lakes. A squall line developed during the evening hours and strengthened after midnight as it moved into western Kentucky and southern Illinois. This line, fueled by unseasonably mild temperatures near 70 degrees, dewpoints around 60, and an intense low level jet of 80kt at 850mb, spawned one of the largest January tornadic outbreaks on record across the Lower Ohio Valley. This line entered west central Kentucky around 2 am January 30th, exiting the Bluegrass and Lake Cumberland Regions during the pre-dawn hours. Several circulations along the squall line produced tornadoes. In addition, strong synoptic southerly winds right ahead and along this line produced localized wind damage.
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 Louisville, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 29, 11:58 PM EST, 2 hours 37 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
1158 PM EST TUE JAN 29 2013
...Updated Aviation Discussion...
.Mesoscale Forecast Update...
1115 PM EST Tue Jan 30 2013
Updated the zones and other public products to include tornado watch
number 12 which is in effect until 5 AM EST Wednesday.
Forecast continues to be on target for the overnight period. Severe
QLCS is in progress to the west of our area and is approaching the
Wabash and Ohio Rivers in far western Kentucky. Upstream reports
from WFO Paducah reveal quite a bit of wind damage with this linear
system. Mesoscale analysis continues to show more than 70kts of
effective shear which should increase a bit more over the next few
hours. VAD wind profiles from PAH still show nearly 100kts of wind
at 4000 ft AGL and calculating SRH from the VAD profiles show 0-1KM
SRH of 550-650 M2/S2 and 0-3KM SRH of over 1000 M2/S2. Thus, with
the shear and the strong theta-e advection mixing out the low-level
inversion, this line should become more surface rooted and increase
in intensity as it heads east. Damaging winds are very likely with
this line overnight and embedded tornadoes within QLCS mesovortices
and bowing line segments are likely.
Based on current progression, this activity should be on our border
with WFO PAH around 1230-130 AM EST and in the I-65 corridor
including Louisville around 2-3 AM and then toward the I-75 between
3-5 AM EST. This is a little faster than previously indicated due
to the fact that the line is speeding up a bit due to cold pool
generation behind the line.
Previously issued at 830 PM EST Tue Jan 30 2013
Surface low is beginning to strengthen across Missouri as
upper-level energy pushes eastward. As of 800 PM, the cold front
extends southwest from Lake Michigan, through Illinois, Missouri,
and into Oklahoma. Convection has been ongoing this afternoon and
evening ahead of the front. While there were severe storms that
impacted the St. Louis metropolitan area earlier, but this has
diminished in strength as it currently pushes into central Illinois.
The airmass across central Illinois and into our area is still
fairly stable. Aircraft soundings confirm what the models have been
predicting, which is a low-level inversion. The main concern is the
convection ongoing across south-central Missouri and northern
Arkansas, which is showing better signs of organizing. As indicated
with the latest Mesoscale Discussion from SPC, this will likely be
the line that will continue to propagate east impacting our area
overnight. As this line approaches, the cap will weaken as theta-e
advection increases, which is evident with a few low-topped showers
developing around the region.
As advertised for several days now, the shear will be quite
impressive as the line gets into our area. Effective bulk shear
currently ahead of the line (across western KY) is 55+ knots, with
effective SRH up to about 500 m2/s2. All guidance continues to peg
high shear in a weakly unstable environment for us as this
convective line gets into our area. With the surface low
strengthening as it tracks northeast and 55+ knot winds at 1900 ft
AGL, would expect the severe potential to continue into southern
Indiana/central Kentucky. Damaging winds with the line will be the
main threat as it becomes better organized over the next few hours.
Embedded circulations within bowing segments will continue to be a
threat as well, so isolated tornadoes remain in play. Overall timing
has not changed, with models still showing slight timing
differences. Latest RAP is a tad slower than our current forecast,
but if the line surges with better cold pool forcing, then we are
pretty much on schedule.
Aside from the strong winds associated with the convection, gradient
winds continue to strengthen. Some gusts are currently around 30
knots, with stronger winds likely as this system approaches.
&&
.Short Term (Tonight through Wednesday Night)...
Issued at 320 PM EST Tue Jan 29 2013
...Strong to Severe Storms Expected Early Wednesday Morning With
Wind Damage and Isolated Tornadoes Being The Main Threats...
Models continue to remain in good agreement on severe weather threat
for tonight, and upstream development is matching up well with
high-res forecasts. MSAS analysis at 19Z indicated a broad 998 mb
low, stretching from eastern OK to southwest MO. By 06Z tonight,
models forecast this low to drop to around 990 mb near KLOT and
continuing to deepen towards daybreak.
A powerful low-level jet will develop overnight in response to this
deepening. Models continue to indicate this jet will be on the order
of 70-80 knots at 850 mb. Gradient winds ahead of the main line
still are expected to be fairly gusty. Speeds are marginal for a
wind advisory, but guidance usually does not handle nighttime winds
as well in these situations, so will continue the wind advisory.
Temperatures remaining in the 60s through the night will mean that a
squall line that forms out of the storms to our west this afternoon
will find a favorable environment to maintain itself through the
forecast area. Low level wind shear is mostly unidirectional, but
storm relative helicities are very high. We may see some discrete
cells develop ahead of the line which would be able to take more
advantage of more southerly winds ahead of the line to produce
tornadoes. The line itself likely will produce damaging winds as
the strong winds aloft get mixed down. Also cannot rule out some
embedded tornadoes within the line in the stronger meso's that form.
The threat for flash flooding seems less with each run, as the width
of the band thins out some. For now have QPF for the
tonight/Wednesday time period at around an inch, though isolated
higher amounts are possible. Area rivers should be able to handle
this water.
Guidance for winds behind the main line pick up again Wednesday
afternoon. Should we get any breaks in the clouds, we easily could
see another round of 30-40 knot winds, so current timing on the wind
advisory looks good. The cold front associated with this low
pressure system will not get into the region until late in the
afternoon Wednesday. West/northwest winds will stay up Wednesday
night as much colder air pours into the area. We may see a brief
period of snow as lingering precipitation ahead of the main upper
trough and nearer the front remains into the night. Accumulations
look minor at this point, mainly over the Bluegrass if at all.
.Long Term (Thursday through Tuesday)...
Issued at 325 PM EST Tue Jan 29 2013
A shortwave and weak surface boundary looks to move through the Ohio
Valley Thursday afternoon/evening, bringing a slight chance for
light rain/snow showers to south-central Indiana. Once the
temperatures drop below freezing that night, expect any rain showers
to change over to snow completely as central Kentucky and southern
IN gets locked under a cold, Canadian airmass. Since models appear
to be trending a bit cooler, have dropped min temps Thursday
overnight/Friday morning into the upper teens and lower 20s. These
temps don't look to rebound above the freezing mark on Friday
afternoon so look for clearing skies as the disturbance moves off
toward the east and surface high pressure briefly drops in.
The next disturbance appears to begin affecting the northern and
western portions of the forecast area by Saturday morning with light
snow shower chances for the north and light rain showers elsewhere.
As the temps rise above freezing, any snow that does fall early on
should switch over to mostly rain as the entire thermal profile
warms up. Even though temps will fall back into the 20s overnight
Saturday, the precip should exit to the east before approaching the
freezing mark again.
For the remainder of the weekend, southerly flow will return to the
region, warming temps into the 40s and 50s Sunday-Monday. However,
the rain is anticipated to return ahead of a cold front Monday in
the form of rain. The rain should be out by the start of the day on
Tuesday with the frontal passage. This leads temps to take on a
non-diurnal curve on Tuesday as the warmest temps of the day should
occur early on. As always is the case for this time of year, any
changes to the thermal profile forecast could change precip types
but for now, there appears to be general model consensus in the
anticipated overall pattern for this time frame. Any snow that is
able to stick to surfaces should be very light in accumulations.
&&
.Aviation (06Z TAF Issuance)...
Issued at 1158 PM EST Tue Jan 29 2013
Deep upper trough over the Plains will drive a surface low pressure
system from the Plains and into the Great Lakes during the day on
Wednesday. Strong surface cold front is located to our west with a
pre-frontal trough axis out ahead of the cold front. Quasi-linear
convective system is well developed and located along the IN/IL/KY
border area and heading east at around 50kts.
Based on the latest radar data, this line will impact the KBWG
terminal around 0630-0830Z. It should be reaching the KSDF terminal
around 0700-0800Z and the KLEX terminal around 0900-1000Z. Have
continued to advertise a period of VCTS just before the above
mentioned times to account for any development that may occur ahead
of the line. Will be keeping a very close met watch on the TAF's
tonight and will be updating to time the lines into the terminals as
they approach. Feel that conditions will be quite poor when the
squalls go through. Variable winds of 25G35kt will be possible for
a time. LLWS will continue to be a problem until the main
convective line passes.
MVFR cigs will continue behind the line with conditions not
improving until mid-late morning. Previous thinking of a second
low-topped line of convection developing still looks like a
possibility and we'll address those issues in later forecasts.
&&
.Hydrology...
Issued at 300 AM EST Tue Jan 29 2013
No real changes in the forecast thinking on the hydrologic front.
An intense line of strong to severe thunderstorms is forecast to
move across the region late tonight and early Wednesday morning. In
addition to the threat of damaging winds, these storms will likely
produce heavy rainfall. Once the system pulls east on Wednesday
morning, a period of stratiform rainfall will likely persist for a
few hours.
Rainfall amounts averaging a little more than an inch in 6 hours
should be widespread. Isolated amounts of up to 2 inches are
possible. This rain could result in brief small stream flooding and
later rises on larger rivers. Any flooding that will occur should be
minor due to the fast nature of these storms. The rain will taper to
scattered showers Wednesday afternoon.
&&
.LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM EST /3 PM CST/ WEDNESDAY FOR
INZ076>079-
083-084-089>092.
KY...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM EST /3 PM CST/ WEDNESDAY FOR
KYZ023>032-
061-062-070>072.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ WEDNESDAY FOR
KYZ033>043-
045>049-053>057-063>067-073>078-081-082.
Mesoscale........MJ/MJP
Short Term.......RJS
Long Term........lg
Aviation.........MJ
Hydrology........CMCHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 338 PM EST TUE JAN 29 2013 INZ076>079-083-084-089>092-KYZ023>032-061-062-070>072-302045- ORANGE IN-WASHINGTON IN-SCOTT IN-JEFFERSON IN-DUBOIS IN-CRAWFORD IN- PERRY IN-HARRISON IN-FLOYD IN-CLARK IN-HANCOCK KY-BRECKINRIDGE KY- MEADE KY-OHIO KY-GRAYSON KY-HARDIN KY-BULLITT KY-JEFFERSON KY- OLDHAM KY-TRIMBLE KY-BUTLER KY-EDMONSON KY-LOGAN KY-WARREN KY- SIMPSON KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PAOLI...SALEM...SCOTTSBURG...MADISON... JASPER...MARENGO...TELL CITY...CORYDON...NEW ALBANY... JEFFERSONVILLE...HAWESVILLE...HARDINSBURG...BRANDENBURG... BEAVER DAM...LEITCHFIELD...ELIZABETHTOWN...FORT KNOX... MOUNT WASHINGTON...SHEPHERDSVILLE...LOUISVILLE...LA GRANGE... BEDFORD...MORGANTOWN...BROWNSVILLE...RUSSELLVILLE...BOWLING GREEN... FRANKLIN 338 PM EST TUE JAN 29 2013 /238 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2013/ ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST /3 PM CST/ WEDNESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. A STRONG COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO PUSH THROUGH THE OUTLOOK AREA LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG AND AHEAD OF THIS FRONT. AT THIS TIME...THE BEST CHANCES FOR STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FROM MIDNIGHT LATE TONIGHT TO 6 AM EST WEDNESDAY. GIVEN THE RATHER STRONG WIND FIELDS...THE MAIN THREAT FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS. HOWEVER...AN ISOLATED TORNADO OR TWO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. OUTSIDE OF THUNDERSTORMS...THE GRADIENT WIND WILL INCREASE DRAMATICALLY TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE AHEAD AND JUST BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. AS THE COLD FRONT CAUSING TONIGHT'S RAINS MOVES THROUGH THE REGION...WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO BE STRONG DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY. MUCH COLDER AIR WILL RETURN TO THE OHIO VALLEY WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. AN UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL CROSS THE REGION THURSDAY NIGHT...BRINGING A CHANCE FOR SOME MINOR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS. ANOTHER QUICK-MOVING DISTURBANCE COULD BRING ADDITIONAL SNOWS ON SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE REQUIRED TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE. KYZ033>043-045>049-053>057-063>067-073>078-081-082-302045- HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY-SCOTT KY-HARRISON KY-SPENCER KY- ANDERSON KY-WOODFORD KY-FAYETTE KY-BOURBON KY-NICHOLAS KY-NELSON KY- WASHINGTON KY-MERCER KY-JESSAMINE KY-CLARK KY-LARUE KY-MARION KY- BOYLE KY-GARRARD KY-MADISON KY-HART KY-GREEN KY-TAYLOR KY-CASEY KY- LINCOLN KY-ALLEN KY-BARREN KY-MONROE KY-METCALFE KY-ADAIR KY- RUSSELL KY-CUMBERLAND KY-CLINTON KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEW CASTLE...SHELBYVILLE...FRANKFORT... GEORGETOWN...CYNTHIANA...TAYLORSVILLE...LAWRENCEBURG...VERSAILLES... LEXINGTON...PARIS...CARLISLE...BARDSTOWN...SPRINGFIELD... HARRODSBURG...NICHOLASVILLE...WINCHESTER...HODGENVILLE...LEBANON... DANVILLE...LANCASTER...RICHMOND...MUNFORDVILLE...GREENSBURG... CAMPBELLSVILLE...LIBERTY...STANFORD...SCOTTSVILLE...GLASGOW... TOMPKINSVILLE...EDMONTON...COLUMBIA...JAMESTOWN...BURKESVILLE... ALBANY 338 PM EST TUE JAN 29 2013 /238 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2013/ ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ THIS EVENING TO 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ WEDNESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. A STRONG COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO PUSH THROUGH THE OUTLOOK AREA LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG AND AHEAD OF THIS FRONT. AT THIS TIME...THE BEST CHANCES FOR STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FROM 2 TO 8 AM EST WEDNESDAY. GIVEN THE RATHER STRONG WIND FIELDS...THE MAIN THREAT FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS. HOWEVER...AN ISOLATED TORNADO OR TWO CAN NOT BE RULED OUT. OUTSIDE OF THUNDERSTORMS...THE GRADIENT WIND WILL INCREASE DRAMATICALLY TUESDAY NIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE AHEAD AND JUST BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. AS THE COLD FRONT CAUSING TONIGHT'S RAINS MOVES THROUGH THE REGION WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO BE STRONG DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY. MUCH COLDER AIR WILL RETURN TO THE OHIO VALLEY WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. AN UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL CROSS THE REGION THURSDAY NIGHT...BRINGING A CHANCE FOR SOME MINOR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS. ANOTHER QUICK-MOVING DISTURBANCE COULD BRING ADDITIONAL SNOWS ON SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE REQUIRED TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE. RJS/LG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
1226 AM EST WED JAN 30 2013
INZ076-083-084-089-KYZ023-026-300655-
CRAWFORD IN-DUBOIS IN-HANCOCK KY-OHIO KY-ORANGE IN-PERRY IN-
1226 AM EST WED JAN 30 2013
...STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS APPROACHING...
A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ENTERING SOUTHWEST INDIANA WILL
CONTINUE TO PUSH EAST...ENTERING DUBOIS COUNTY AROUND 1 AM EST.
THESE STORMS WILL REACH ORANGE...CRAWFORD...AND PERRY COUNTIES IN
INDIANA...AND HANCOCK COUNTY IN KENTUCKY AROUND 130 AM EST...OR 1230
AM CST.
HEAVY RAIN REDUCING VISIBILITIES...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60
MPH...ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 5 AM EST. STAY TUNED FOR UPDATED INFORMATION...AND BE READY TO
ACT QUICKLY IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.
* THESE STORMS WILL ALSO IMPACT...
HAWESVILLE...
TELL CITY...
PAOLI...
JASPER...
ENGLISH...
MILLERSPORT...
PORTERSVILLE AND IRELAND...
HOLLAND AND HAYSVILLE...
HUNTINGBURG AIRPORT AND JOHNSBURG...
THESE STORMS WILL AFFECT INTERSTATE 64 IN INDIANA BETWEEN MILE
MARKERS 74 AND 92.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
STRONG WINDS WITH THESE STORMS CAN TOPPLE WEAKLY ROOTED TREES...AND
DOWN POWER LINES. TAKE PRECAUTIONS NOW TO SECURE TRASH CANS...LAWN
FURNITURE AND OTHER LOOSE OUTDOOR OBJECTS. MOTORISTS IN HIGH PROFILE
VEHICLES SHOULD USE CAUTION.
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS AND
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO...
WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE ON THE INTERNET...OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER
UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
&&
LAT...LON 3851 8708 3853 8669 3869 8668 3869 8632
3840 8637 3842 8631 3839 8624 3839 8626
3822 8628 3819 8638 3813 8633 3812 8647
3784 8667 3771 8667 3766 8685 3780 8683
3790 8699 3801 8678 3820 8680 3821 8708
TIME...MOT...LOC 0523Z 253DEG 35KT 3889 8729 3749 8788
RASSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
1257 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013
KYZ026-061-070-300755-
BUTLER KY-LOGAN KY-OHIO KY-
1257 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013
...STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS...
A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ALONG THE
KENTUCKY/TENNESSEE BORDER WILL ENTER LOGAN...BUTLER...AND OHIO
COUNTIES JUST BEFORE 2 AM CST.
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM CST. STAY AWARE OF
UPDATED INFORMATION AND BE READY TO ACT QUICKLY WHEN WARNINGS ARE
ISSUED.
* THESE STORMS WILL ALSO IMPACT...
RUSSELLVILLE...
MORGANTOWN...
HARTFORD...
COFFMAN...
SMALLHOUS AND KIRTLEY...
HEFLIN AND BUFORD...
NO CREEK AND CERALVO...
THESE STORMS WILL AFFECT THE WESTERN KENTUCKY (FORD) PARKWAY BETWEEN
MILE MARKERS 75 AND 77.
THESE STORMS WILL AFFECT THE NATCHER PARKWAY BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 27
AND 48.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
STRONG WINDS WITH THESE STORMS CAN TOPPLE WEAKLY ROOTED TREES...AND
DOWN POWER LINES. TAKE PRECAUTIONS NOW TO SECURE TRASH CANS...LAWN
FURNITURE AND OTHER LOOSE OUTDOOR OBJECTS. MOTORISTS IN HIGH PROFILE
VEHICLES SHOULD USE CAUTION.
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS AND
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO...
WEATHER.GOV/LOUISVILLE ON THE INTERNET...OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER
UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
&&
LAT...LON 3749 8713 3767 8683 3774 8682 3766 8664
3755 8658 3756 8664 3740 8661 3736 8649
3717 8640 3718 8662 3699 8667 3688 8661
3684 8670 3665 8677 3664 8706 3706 8706
3711 8689 3735 8702 3734 8714
TIME...MOT...LOC 0655Z 238DEG 42KT 3743 8741 3637 8795
RASThe Louisville radar (KLVX), 33 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:34 UTC.
33 thunderstorm wind, 6 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A spotter reported that a line of storms downed several trees in the Battletown area.
Ohio County emergency management reported several trees downed near the small town of Wysox.
The Breckinridge emergency manager reported several trees down near the town of Falls of Rough.
Law enforcement reported that a small detached garage blew onto a road.
A storm survey revealed that an EF-0 tornado with estimated 80 mph winds and a width of 200 yards struck Meade County around 5.7 miles southeast of Brandenburg. Initially, this tornado touched down in a grove of trees near the end of Kurtz Drive. It then damaged several homes on Kurtz Drive and near the intersection of Thornhill Drive and Gaines Road. One owner of a home east of Gaines Road mentioned that water was evacuated from all 4 toilets as the tornado passed by. Local residents reported a loud roar. Another home along Gaines Road has its front door pulled off. Before lifting right off Tom Cain Road, the tornado damaged a small shed.
The ASOS at Fort Knox measured a 58 mph wind gust.
An EF-0 tornado that started in Harrison County, Indiana and crossed the Ohio River ended in the Pleasure Ridge Park area of southwest Louisville. The total path length in Kentucky was 2.25 miles. Overall, the entire path length of this tornado, including the portion in Indiana, was 2.8 miles. While in Kentucky, this twister did roof and siding damage to many homes in the Greenridge Estates subdivision in addition to uprooting several trees.
Louisville Metrosafe reported several trees downed along the 4500th block of 2nd Street.
A barn along Ray Williams road two miles west of Settle was completely destroyed.
A storm survey found that many trees were downed in this location. This spot was a portion of a 16 mile long swath of intermittent tree damage caused by estimated 50 to 70 mph winds.
An EF-2 tornado touched down just to the east of Interstate 65 around 3 miles southwest of Smith's Grove. After damaging several outbuildings, it encountered a set of 4 grain silos just to the south of Glasgow Road. It destroyed all 4 silos and threw their remains several hundred yards to the east. The tornado stayed on the ground for 3 miles, eventually crossing Interstate 65 just south of Smith's Grove. This tornado overturned a semi-trailer on the interstate. Before lifting up just to the east of Smith's Grove, it destroyed an older wooden barn and a large well constructed dairy barn, ripping steel I-beams out of their concrete base, scattering its roof, and collapsing its southern and eastern cinder block walls.
Three homes had roof damage near Settle. Fifteen trees were also downed.
Estimated 60 mph winds near Adolphus tore a portion of a barn's roof off.
An Allen County official reported that several barns had roof damage along Pitchford Ridge Road.
A tree fell across and downed a power line in Pewee Valley.
A circulation embedded within a squall line that earlier produced an EF-2 tornado in Warren County spawned a second tornado that briefly touched down in Rocky Hill. It then lifted and touched down again around one mile to the northeast. Along its second track, which was around seven tenths of a mile, it snapped several trees within two long rows of trees along fence lines. Near the end of its path, along Louisville Road, it tore half the roof off of a home and destroyed a nearby barn.
One hundred feet of metal roofing was ripped off a large boat shelter at a marina on Barren River Lake. Roof and dock damage to the marina office was also sustained, along with uprooted trees in the vicinity.
A COOP observer measured a 54 knot wind gust.
A storm survey found several downed trees near Park City, in western Barren County. This damage was within a larger swath of damage caused by estimated 50 to 70 mph winds.
A short-lived EF-1 tornado destroyed a well built barn and knocked down several trees along Finney Road, located a mile east of the small town of Rocky Hill.
The Barren County emergency manager reported that a barn was blown over. Another nearby barn had roof damage. Nearby, several trees were downed along State Highway 25 southwest of Glasgow.
A National Weather Service employee reported trees down along Interstate 65 four miles south of Upton.
Several barns sustained wind damage ranging from peeled metal roof panels to complete collapse along and west of U.S. Highway 31E from the Barren County border to near Hardyville.
The public reported that a downed telephone pole blocked Highway 1297 just north of Highway 1297 in Glasgow.
The roof was ripped off the metal shop of an auto dealership on the south side of Cave City, and a barn was destroyed on the east side of town.
An observer measured a 62 mph wind gust.
Several trees and power lines were downed in Edmonton. A small outbuilding was blown onto a street.
Taylor County law enforcement reported several trees downed across the county.
Numerous trees were downed across Adair County.
A weak EF-0 tornado with estimated winds of 80 to 85 mph briefly touched down along Calvary Road around 7 miles southwest of Bradfordsville. Although this twister had a path length estimated of only a tenth of a mile, it did destroy a mobile home, injuring two occupants. It also slid a shed off of its foundation.
A barn was flattened. Nearby, a home sustained gutter damage.
Quite a few trees were downed county wide, including some in Jamestown.
A mobile home was substantially damaged when a portion of its roof was removed.
The county emergency manager reported that a television tower at a the County Utility Building was blown down.
A National Weather Service storm survey found sporadic damage from straight line winds along Union Mills Road between Mackey Pike and State Highway 1981. Two large barns were destroyed. Several trees were downed. Tin from a barn roof was thrown into a roadway. Based on damage, wind speeds were estimated at 65 to 70 mph.
Lexington law enforcement reported a utility pole down on Briar Hill Road.
A barn roof was heavily damaged. Several trees were downed nearby.
The Clark County emergency manager reported a few trees downed in Winchester.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kentucky, 2013Warnings in Kentucky, January 2013
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: 422380, 422381, 422526, 422523, 421962, 422389, 421955, 422386, 421980, 422382, 421959, 422387, 421976, 422398, 422525, 422000, 422383, 422397, 422384, 422025, 422399, 422388, 422385, 422390, 422395, 437620, 422524, 422396, 422391, 422403, 421958, 422402, 422404, 422400, 422393, 422394, 422392, 422405, 422401.