An intensifying surface low moved from the Southern Plains into the Great Lakes. Meanwhile the associated strong cold front swept across the Mid-South during the evening hours of January 29, 2013 into the early morning hours of January 30, 2013.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 MEG wrote it up.
An intensifying surface low moved from the Southern Plains into the Great Lakes. Meanwhile the associated strong cold front swept across the Mid-South during the evening hours of January 29, 2013 into the early morning hours of January 30, 2013. Strong winds aloft combined with an increasingly unstable airmass set the stage for severe weather across the region. A broken line of thunderstorms moved into Eastern Arkansas during the evening hours of January 29, 2013 and eventually formed a solid line of thunderstorms as it crossed the Mississippi River and moved into West Tennessee and North Mississippi during the overnight hours. There were numerous reports of damaging winds and flash flooding.
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 Memphis, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 29, 5:58 PM CST, 3 hours 47 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
558 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2013
.UPDATE...
UPDATED TO ADD 00Z AVIATION DISCUSSION.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 349 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2013/
DISCUSSION...
CURRENTLY...A COLD FRONT EXTENDS ACROSS EAST OKLAHOMA WITH A SOLID
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND JUST AHEAD OF IT. OTHER
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED ACROSS THE WESTERN HALF OF ARKANSAS.
CLOUDS HAVE BECOME MORE SCATTERED EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
OVER THE LAST FEW HOURS. SOUTHERLY WINDS HAVE INCREASED AND
TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE 70 DEGREES AT MOST LOCATIONS.
TONIGHT...EXPECT THE COLD FRONT TO APPROACH THE WESTERN PART OF
OUR FORECAST AREA LATE THIS EVENING...MOVING THROUGH MOST OUR AREA
LATE TONIGHT AND CLEARING OUR EASTERN COUNTIES SHORTLY AFTER
DAYBREAK. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE VERY LIKELY ALONG AND HEAD OF THE
FRONT TONIGHT WITH SOME STORMS SEVERE. MODELS STILL INDICATE
PLENTY OF INSTABILITY AND SHEAR WHICH WOULD FAVOR THE POTENTIAL FOR
DAMAGING WINDS...TORNADOES...AND HAIL. THE ONLY CAVEAT WHICH MIGHT
REDUCE THE RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS THE SURFACE LOW RIDING ALONG
THE FRONT TO OUR NORTHWEST IS NOT VERY STRONG AND THIS COULD
LIMIT THE SHEAR AND REDUCE THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. WINDY
CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY AND THIS WILL SUPPORT THE CONTINUATION OF
THE WIND ADVISORY.
WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...A MORE POLAR-LIKE AIRMASS WILL DOMINATE
OUR WEATHER AS AN UPPER TROUGH BECOMES MORE ESTABLISHED OVER THE
REGION. A REINFORCING COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THURSDAY
EVENING PROVIDING A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES OVER PARTS OF
THE AREA FOLLOWED BY COLDER WEATHER FRIDAY. THE WEEKEND WILL BE A
LITTLE WARMER WITH A DEVELOPING SOUTHERLY WIND ON THE BACK SIDE OF
A POLAR HIGH. THERE IS A SMALL CHANCE OF RAIN SATURDAY AHEAD OF A
WEAK COLD FRONT SATURDAY NIGHT.
MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...THE UPPER FLOW WILL BECOME MORE ZONAL. A
RETURN FLOW OF MOISTURE WILL DEVELOP MONDAY WHICH WILL PROVIDE MORE
CLOUDS AND A CHANCE OF RAIN. ANOTHER COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH
MONDAY NIGHT FOLLOWED BY HIGH PRESSURE AND DRIER WEATHER TUESDAY.
SWC
&&
.AVIATION...
00Z TAF CYCLE
VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DETERIORATE TO MVFR CONDITIONS TONIGHT
AS A STRONG COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY
AND SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE
FRONT. IFR CONDITIONS POSSIBLE WITHIN THUNDERSTORMS. BEST TIMING
FOR COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MAINLY BETWEEN
30/04-06Z AT JBR...30/06-08Z AT MEM...30/07-09Z AT MKL...AND
30/09-11 AT TUP. THUNDERSTORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR
PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND POSSIBLY TORNADOES.
SOUTH WINDS BETWEEN 15 TO 20 KTS WITH GUSTS AVERAGING AROUND 30
KTS WILL VEER WEST THEN NORTHWEST WITH COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. VFR
CONDITIONS ANTICIPATED TO RETURN BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
CJC
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MEM 54 54 31 53 / 100 10 0 0
MKL 56 57 28 50 / 100 30 0 0
JBR 50 50 27 50 / 100 10 0 0
TUP 58 62 31 55 / 100 40 0 0
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR CLAY-CRAIGHEAD-
CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-MISSISSIPPI-
PHILLIPS-POINSETT-RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.
MO...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR DUNKLIN-PEMISCOT.
MS...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR ALCORN-BENTON MS-
COAHOMA-DESOTO-LAFAYETTE-MARSHALL-PANOLA-QUITMAN-
TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TIPPAH-TUNICA-YALOBUSHA.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR CALHOUN-CHICKASAW-
ITAWAMBA-LEE MS-MONROE-PONTOTOC-PRENTISS-TISHOMINGO-UNION.
TN...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR CARROLL-CHESTER-
CROCKETT-DECATUR-DYER-FAYETTE-GIBSON-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-
HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-MADISON-MCNAIRY-
OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON-WEAKLEY.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1100 AM CST TUE JAN 29 2013 ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115- MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>055-088>092-301200- ALCORN-BENTON MS-CALHOUN-CARROLL-CHESTER-CHICKASAW-CLAY-COAHOMA- CRAIGHEAD-CRITTENDEN-CROCKETT-CROSS-DESOTO-DECATUR-DUNKLIN-DYER- FAYETTE-GIBSON-GREENE-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY- ITAWAMBA-LAFAYETTE-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-LEE MS-MADISON- MARSHALL-MCNAIRY-MISSISSIPPI-MONROE-OBION-PANOLA-PEMISCOT- PHILLIPS-POINSETT-PONTOTOC-PRENTISS-QUITMAN-RANDOLPH-SHELBY- ST. FRANCIS-TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TIPPAH-TIPTON-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA- UNION-WEAKLEY-YALOBUSHA- 1100 AM CST TUE JAN 29 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH. THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH MIDNIGHT WEST OF THE MISSSISSIPPI RIVER...FROM 8 PM TO 2 AM NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER...AND FROM LATE EVENING THROUGH OVERNIGHT EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THE PRIMARY SEVERE THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES...WITH A SECONDARY THREAT FOR LARGE HAIL. A WIND ADVISORY IS ALSO IN EFFECT ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH THROUGH TONIGHT DUE TO STRONG WINDS. REFER TO THE LATEST WIND ADVISORY FOR DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT. SWC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 750 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2013 MSZ007-008-010>012-300215- TUNICA MS-TATE MS-QUITMAN MS-PANOLA MS-COAHOMA MS- 750 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2013 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 815 PM CST FOR... NORTHEASTERN COAHOMA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... NORTHWESTERN PANOLA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... NORTHERN QUITMAN COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... WESTERN TATE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... SOUTHERN TUNICA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED OVER JONESTOWN AT 751 PM CST...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH. PEOPLE IN COAHOMA...PANOLA...QUITMAN...TATE AND TUNICA COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT ALSO INCLUDES ARKABUTLA LAKE...BEAVERDAM LAKE...FLOWER LAKE... HORSESHOE LAKE AND TUNICA LAKE. .A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ADVISORY AREA. && LAT...LON 3472 9043 3471 8995 3417 9038 3426 9064 TIME...MOT...LOC 0151Z 211DEG 51KT 3436 9041
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
806 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2013
MSZ011-012-020-300230-
TALLAHATCHIE MS-QUITMAN MS-PANOLA MS-
806 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2013
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 830 PM CST FOR...
SOUTHWESTERN PANOLA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI...
SOUTHEASTERN QUITMAN COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI...
TALLAHATCHIE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT
LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WEBB AT 806 PM CST...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
PEOPLE IN PANOLA...QUITMAN AND TALLAHATCHIE COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR
THIS STORM CLOSELY.
.A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ADVISORY AREA.
&&
LAT...LON 3381 9046 3402 9045 3426 9030 3414 8992
3412 8993 3380 9029 3380 9045
TIME...MOT...LOC 0206Z 215DEG 47KT 3379 9048SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
809 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2013
ARZ008-009-017-018-026-MOZ113-300245-
CLAY AR-CRAIGHEAD AR-GREENE AR-LAWRENCE AR-RANDOLPH AR-DUNKLIN MO-
809 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2013
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 845 PM CST FOR...
CLAY COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
NORTHERN CRAIGHEAD COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
GREENE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
LAWRENCE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
RANDOLPH COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
DUNKLIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...
A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS
LOCATED FROM 9 MILES NORTH OF MAYNARD TO 4 MILES SOUTH OF LAKE
CHARLES STATE PARK AT 808 PM CST...MOVING EAST AT 70 MPH.
VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.
PEOPLE IN CLAY...CRAIGHEAD...DUNKLIN...GREENE...LAWRENCE AND RANDOLPH
COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR BLACK ROCK...BONO...BROOKLAND...
CAMPBELL...CHALK BLUFF NATURAL AREA...CORNING...CROWLEYS RIDGE STATE
PARK...HOXIE...LAKE CHARLES STATE PARK...LAKE FRIERSON STATE PARK...
MALDEN...MARMADUKE...MONETTE...PARAGOULD...PIGGOTT...POCAHONTAS...
RECTOR AND WALNUT RIDGE...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
.A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ADVISORY AREA.
&&
LAT...LON 3662 8996 3654 8995 3600 9025 3600 9029
3589 9031 3589 9136 3611 9136 3625 9130
3625 9127 3633 9127 3650 9120 3650 9023
3664 9014
TIME...MOT...LOC 0208Z 270DEG 60KT 3655 9077 3601 9105The Paducah radar (KPAH), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:06 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 2 strong wind, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong winds ahead of a cold front knocked down several trees near Paris.
Straight line winds knocked down several large trees in the University of Memphis area. A very large business sign was knocked over on Germantown Parkway in Cordova. The ASOS at Memphis International Airport reported a gust of 61 mph.
Strong winds ahead of a cold front knocked down power lines resulting in numerous brush fires across McNairy County.
Heavy rain caused flash flooding across parts of Memphis. The Poplar Avenue and International Place intersection was flooded in East Memphis. Airways Road and Swinnea Road near Memphis International were flooded. Vehicles were stuck in deep water near Walnut Grove Road and Interstate 240 in East Memphis. Water was as deep as the windows of a stalled car at Timber Creek Drive and Walnut Bend Road in Cordova.
Heavy rain caused flash flooding in parts of Tipton County. Brighton-Clopton Road was flooded near Brighton. A few homes on Hall Road were flooded with up to one foot of water. Walnut Grove Road and Gay Road were flooded near Burlison.
Straight line winds of 70 to 80 mph damaged 12 structures in Hardeman County including three homes and nine businesses including a lumber yard in Toone.
Straight line winds of 70 to 80 mph caused widespread damage across Southern Henderson County. Areas of enhanced damage was caused by thunderstorm winds estimated up to 110 mph. About 250 homes were damaged and several of them were destroyed. Numerous other structures were damaged. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down. Three injuries were reported including one person that broke his hip.
Straight line winds of 70 to 80 mph knocked down numerous trees and power lines on Rose Creek Road and Sulphur Springs Road in Western McNairy County. Large numbers of pine trees were pushed over or uprooted in Bethel Springs. A few of the trees were snapped and many power lines were knocked down. An estimated 100 structures were damaged in McNairy County with the heaviest damage in Bethel Springs area. A couple of vehicles were crushed by fallen trees in Bethel Springs.
Straight line winds damaged about 100 homes across Chester County. A 33 foot long recreational vehicle was tossed into the family swimming pool and a 16 foot trailer was wrapped upside down around some trees about 200 yards away. The heaviest damage was in the northeast part of the county. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down blocking several roads. A large barn was completely destroyed in the Jacks Creek area. Four people suffered minor injuries.
Straight line winds blew a loft off a barn north of Parsons. Three other out buildings were damaged or nearly destroyed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, 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: 433879, 433894, 434240, 434088, 434245, 434279, 434271, 434294, 434495, 434501.