A cold front stretching from northern Indiana south along the Mississippi River Valley moved east through southern Indiana and central Kentucky. This powerful storm system brought widespread and locally heavy rain to the area along with damaging gradient and thunderstorm winds throughout the day.
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.
A cold front stretching from northern Indiana south along the Mississippi River Valley moved east through southern Indiana and central Kentucky. This powerful storm system brought widespread and locally heavy rain to the area along with damaging gradient and thunderstorm winds throughout the day. High temperatures dropped 20 degrees from January 11 to 12. Widespread 40-60 MPH winds occurred across the region in and out of storms, and through several waves during the day. This resulted in damaged property, tree damage, and injuries. At one point on Saturday afternoon, there were more than 43,000 power outages across the region.
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 11, 7:29 AM CST, 1 hour 16 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Louisville KY
829 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020
.Forecast Update...
Issued at 825 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020
A Tornado Watch has been issued for portions of western Kentucky
through 1 PM CST. A strong line of thunderstorms is moving eastward
across western Kentucky, nearing the western edge of our CWA. While
instability remains weak(< 100 J/kg), wind shear values remain very
strong with 0-3 km bulk shear around 60 kts. Damaging winds will be
the primary threat, but we have already seen instances of bowing
segments in the line to our west, and with the strong wind shear,
would not take much to get brief, isolated tornadoes out of this
line.
&&
.Short Term...(Today and tonight)
Issued at 330 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020
Current radar imagery shows relatively quiet conditions across the
region with the exception of a few scattered showers. However, as we
approach daybreak, a squall line of showers/storms associated with
the advancing cold front extending from eastern Michigan to Louisiana
will slowly begin encroaching upon the Ohio Valley. At this time,
most CAMs agree that the squall line will begin affecting the region
by mid morning, with the heaviest rains expected to fall during the
afternoon hours. Given the recent rains and saturated soils,
flooding will likely become an issue throughout the day, especially
in southern IN, with localized flooding possible in KY.
In regards to severe weather, model guidance continues to support a
low threat considering the limited instability along with 0-3km
shear vectors oriented parallel to the squall line throughout the
event. However, given the magnitude of the shear vectors, it would
only take a slight deflection in orientation to cause bowing
segments to the line, which could result in damaging winds and
perhaps a few brief spin up tornadoes. Regardless, expect to see
ample forcing across the region today, considering that we will be
situated in the right entrance region of a notable upper level jet,
coupled with the fact that an impressive 70-80kt low level jet will
be directly overhead. As a result, gusty southerly winds up to 40
mph will be possible for much of the day, allowing for WAA to
elevate afternoon highs into the upper 60s to low 70s.
.Long Term...(Sunday through Friday)
Issued at 255 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020
Active short-term pattern will take a break Sunday, with high
pressure building over the region. We may still deal with low cloud
cover, as time sections keep low-level saturation across the region.
That break in precip should last Monday as well, but a few SREF
members are pulling up moisture from the Appalachians. GEFS keeps
Monday dry and most other deterministic models are dry, so will
continue practice of the last few nights and lower blended model
guidance for Monday.
Monday night, we start getting back into an active pattern
again...with some shortwave energy moving through a southwest flow
aloft over KY should work with a trough moving into the Midwest to
pull moisture into the region from the south. In response, most of
those deterministic models pull rain back into the region...but
differ on just how far north that precip gets. Similar to Monday,
will lower pops but only in the north, essentially making a tighter
gradient across the I-64 corridor.
Wednesday, a stronger shortwave moving through the Midwest should
work with this moisture to create better rain chances areawide, and
finally allow some colder air to get in here for the end of the work
week. Friday, yet another area of energy will help to pull the
midweek front back northward, with some overrunning precip possible
during the day. Confidence in precip type is a little low, so didn't
make too many changes from what the blended guidance gave here.
&&
.Aviation...(12Z TAF Issuance)
Issued at 615 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020
Expect rain chances to ramp up shortly after daybreak as a cold
front and associated squall line continue to push eastward toward
the region. Cigs and vsbys are forecast to gradually lower to MVFR
levels as the line traverses the region from west to east. All TAF
sites will likely drop below fuel- alternate during the heaviest
showers/storms. HNB could even drop to IFR levels briefly during
that time.
Aside from persistent showers today, expect gusty southerly winds to
prevail, as an impressive 70-80kt LLJ moves directly overhead the
region. Sustained winds will likely range between 18-25 mph with
gusts up to 45 mph. LLWS will also affect all TAF sites today, given
the strength of the aforementioned LLJ. Dry conditions are forecast
to return late tonight in the wake of the exiting cold front,
however, low cigs will likely linger throughout the remainder of the
TAF period.
&&
.Hydrology...
Issued at 300 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020
Heaviest storm total rainfall through tonight still looks to run
west of the I-65 corridor. The heaviest rain rates in that corridor
look to be as the squall line west of the region moves into our
region later this morning and gets into the I-65 corridor by early
afternoon. Flash flood guidance has lowered after Friday's rains.
The average across Dubois county is 0.70"/1-hour to cause flash
flooding. Guidance is a little higher across the rest of the Flash
Flood Watch area. Excellent water vapor transport into that area
over the next several hours will continue to mean efficient rain
producers, so look for a good potential for flash flood warnings
over that period.
At this point, the river basins most at risk for flooding would be
the Blue and Muscatatuck in southern IN along with a lesser threat
on the Green River west of I-65.
&&
.Climate...
Issued at 315 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020
With gusty south winds today, several temperature
records are at risk of being broken...even despite rain in the area.
Here are the records for the main climate sites, along with our
forecast:
Warm Maximum Temperature for 1/11
Station Forecast High Record High
================================================
Louisville 71 69/1890
Lexington 71 66/2018 (and other years)
Bowling Green 70 70/2013
Also...low temperatures so far this morning were well above warm
minimum records for this date. However, with a cold front crossing
the region today, we expect temperatures to drop below those records
by Midnight tonight.
&&
.LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...Flash Flood Watch until 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ this evening for
INZ076>079-083-084-089.
Wind Advisory until midnight EST /11 PM CST/ tonight for
INZ076>079-083-084-089>092.
KY...Flash Flood Watch until 6 PM CST this evening for KYZ023.
Wind Advisory until midnight EST /11 PM CST/ tonight for
KYZ023>043-045>049-053>057-061>067-070>078-081-082.
&&
Update...JML
Short Term...SSC
Long Term...RJS
Aviation...SSC
Hydrology...RJS
Climate...RJSHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Louisville KY 816 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 INZ090>092-KYZ024-025-027>043-045>049-053>057-062>067-074>078-081- 082-121330- Harrison-Floyd-Clark-Breckinridge-Meade-Grayson-Hardin-Bullitt- Jefferson-Oldham-Trimble-Henry-Shelby-Franklin-Scott-Spencer- Anderson-Woodford-Fayette-Bourbon-Nicholas-Nelson-Washington-Mercer- Jessamine-Larue-Marion-Boyle-Garrard-Madison-Edmonson-Hart-Green- Taylor-Casey-Lincoln-Barren-Monroe-Metcalfe-Adair-Russell-Cumberland- Clinton- Including the cities of Corydon, New Albany, Jeffersonville, Hardinsburg, Brandenburg, Leitchfield, Elizabethtown, Shepherdsville, Louisville, La Grange, Bedford, Milton, New Castle, Shelbyville, Frankfort, Georgetown, Cynthiana, Taylorsville, Lawrenceburg, Versailles, Lexington, Paris, Carlisle, Bardstown, Springfield, Harrodsburg, Nicholasville, Winchester, Hodgenville, Lebanon, Danville, Lancaster, Richmond, Brownsville, Horse Cave, Greensburg, Campbellsville, Liberty, Stanford, Glasgow, Tompkinsville, Edmonton, Columbia, Jamestown, Burkesville, and Albany 816 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 /716 AM CST Sat Jan 11 2020/ ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST /11 PM CST/ TONIGHT... This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Indiana and Central Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Strong to locally damaging winds are possible Saturday, with 40 to 50 mph gusts even outside of thunderstorms. A line of heavy showers and a few thunderstorms will move through the Ohio Valley Saturday afternoon, producing briefly torrential rainfall that could lead to localized flash flooding. Locally damaging winds are also possible, and brief spin-up tornadoes cannot be ruled out, mainly over south central Kentucky. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters should report any wind damage and peak wind gusts as well as any flooded roadways on Saturday. INZ076>079-083-084-089-121330- Orange-Washington-Scott-Jefferson-Dubois-Crawford-Perry- Including the cities of Paoli, Salem, Scottsburg, Madison, Jasper, English, and Tell City 816 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 /716 AM CST Sat Jan 11 2020/ ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST /11 PM CST/ TONIGHT... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ THIS EVENING... This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Indiana and Central Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Strong to locally damaging winds are possible Saturday, with 40 to 50 mph gusts even outside of thunderstorms. A line of heavy showers and a few thunderstorms will move through the Ohio Valley Saturday afternoon, producing briefly torrential rainfall that could lead to localized flash flooding. Locally damaging winds are also possible, and brief spin-up tornadoes cannot be ruled out, mainly over south central Kentucky. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters should report any wind damage and peak wind gusts as well as any flooded roadways on Saturday. KYZ026-061-070>073-121330- Ohio-Butler-Logan-Warren-Simpson-Allen- Including the cities of Hartford, Morgantown, Russellville, Bowling Green, Franklin, Providence, and Scottsville 716 AM CST Sat Jan 11 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST THIS EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH 12 IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON... This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Indiana and Central Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Strong to locally damaging winds are possible today, with 40 to 50 mph gusts even outside of thunderstorms. A line of heavy showers and a few thunderstorms will move through the Ohio Valley Saturday afternoon, producing briefly torrential rainfall that could lead to localized flash flooding. Locally damaging winds are also possible, and brief spin-up tornadoes cannot be ruled out, mainly over south central Kentucky. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters should report any wind damage and peak wind gusts as well as any flooded roadways on Saturday. KYZ023-121330- Hancock- Including the cities of Lewisport and Hawesville 716 AM CST Sat Jan 11 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST THIS EVENING... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH 12 IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON... This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of south central Indiana and Central Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Strong to locally damaging winds are possible today, with 40 to 50 mph gusts even outside of thunderstorms. A line of heavy showers and a few thunderstorms will move through the Ohio Valley Saturday afternoon, producing briefly torrential rainfall that could lead to localized flash flooding. Locally damaging winds are also possible, and brief spin-up tornadoes cannot be ruled out, mainly over south central Kentucky. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters should report any wind damage and peak wind gusts as well as any flooded roadways on Saturday. 13
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
654 AM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 ENE PROVIDENCE 36.68N 86.61W
01/11/2020 M49 MPH SIMPSON KY MESONET
MEASURED AT THE SIMPSON COUNTY KENTUCKY
MESONET STATION.
&&
RJSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
842 AM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0830 AM NON-TSTM WND GST COLUMBIA 3N 37.10N 85.31W
01/11/2020 M51 MPH ADAIR KY MESONET
&&
CJPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
846 AM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0715 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SE BOWLING GREEN 36.96N 86.42W
01/11/2020 M52 MPH WARREN KY ASOS
&&
CJPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
857 AM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0837 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG 4 ENE RICHARDSVILLE 37.12N 86.42W
01/11/2020 WARREN KY PUBLIC
SOCIAL MEDIA PICTURE SHOWS DAMAGE TO SHEET
METAL NEAR 185 IN ANNA. PICTURE POSTED AT
7:37 AM CST.
&&
CJPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
936 AM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0910 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 NE BOWLING GREEN 36.99N 86.42W
01/11/2020 WARREN KY PUBLIC
SOCIAL MEDIA POST SHOWS PICTURES OF TREE
DAMAGE NEAR CEMETERY. PICTURES WERE POSTED
AT 8:10 AM CST.
&&
CJPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
945 AM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0940 AM NON-TSTM WND GST LEITCHFIELD 37.48N 86.29W
01/11/2020 M53 MPH GRAYSON KY MESONET
&&
CJPThe Ft Campbell radar (KHPX), 82 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:43 UTC.
20 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down on the 3000 block of Brownsville Road.
There was a piece of metal blocking the roadway on the 4300 block of Highway 477 in Breckinridge County, Kentucky.
A 53 kt gust was recorded at the Breckinridge County KY Mesonet site.
A tree fell and trapped two people in St. Matthews.
The National Weather Service in conjunction with Monroe County KY EMA conducted a storm damage survey across extreme northeast portions of Monroe County for storm damage on Saturday, January 11. A line of storms produced significant cedar tree damage at 12829 Center Point Road. Several cedar trees were uprooted and snapped across the cattle pasture. A very large barn had significant roof damage storing hay had metal roofing peeled back and thrown several hundred yards downwind. A carport at the one story family residence was lifted up with an inordinate amount of insulation and building material was blown up to 500 yards northeastward. The trailer portion of an 18- wheeler...full of family storage...was pushed over and moved 10 yards. The air conditioning unit was moved approximately 35 yards to the northeast. A wheelbarrow was wrapped around a power line and blown through a fence. The front porch roof fell and pillars were scattered in the yard. Part of the homes roof was peeled off and bricks were blown off the side of the house. A power line was wrapped around a tree. The type of damage is consistent with the radar imagery of a linear line of storms pushing the rough the area from the west southwest to east northeast. Witnesses said they felt a pressure drop that lasted about 20 seconds.
Numerous trees were down across western and central Barren County in Park City and Glasgow.
A 50 kt gust was recorded at the Glasgow airport's AWOS site.
There were numerous reports of power lines and trees down across Hart County.
There were numerous trees reported down across the county.
Numerous trees were down in Taylor County.
Broadcast media relayed a public picture of severe roof damage to a home near Tompkinsville.
A dispatcher reported numerous trees were down across the county.
Significant roof damage occurred at the White Hall Historical Site.
Eastern Kentucky University reported several trees were blown down on campus.
There were numerous reports of trees and power poles down causing power outages.
A large barn sustained significant damage along Poosey Ridge Road.
Broadcast media showed pictures of barns flattened in the Boonesborough area.
A tree and debris were reported in the road at Old US Highway 25 and Highway 1016 in Berea.
The National Weather Service, in conjunction with Madison County KY EMA, conducted a storm damage survey in eastern Madison County. The most concentrated area of damage was located at 595 Charlie Norris Rd, where several large barns, a greenhouse, and the top of a silo all experienced major structural damage. All of the barn and silo damage was moved from the SW to the NNE at a distance of up to half a mile. The medium sized greenhouse had its entire roof structure destroyed. A single-wide mobile home was turned and rolled once or twice, with three people inside. The three people all sustained bruises and cuts, with the most significant being a female who was thrown into a fish tank and had to go the hospital. An old farmhouse adjacent to the mobile home sustained major roof damage as well. All across the property, there were uprooted and snapped trees. Across the street, on the west side of the road, a medium sized barn was completely destroyed.At 645 Charlie Norris Rd, there was extensive tree damage, especially cedar trees, along with outbuildings and barns. The home owner had recently built a new fence with posts in concrete, and some of these posts were leaning or lifted out of the ground. The owner was putting away a small John Deere tractor about a minute before the storm struck and the winds were so strong, it lifted the tractor almost a foot off the ground and rotated it approximately 60 degrees. A smaller house on the property experienced damage on the front porch, which had its foundation lifted, damaging the roof and gutter. The emergency manager in Clark County KY reported sporadic wind damage across the county, mainly in the form of tree damage. One of the most concentrated areas of damage was 470 Ford Hampton Rd in Winchester.
A mobile home was flipped over on Charlie Norris Road. Two occupants were inside with one person receiving minor injuries.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, January 2020
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: 873854, 873855, 873871, 873856, 873857, 873858, 873872, 873859, 873860, 873861, 873862, 873863, 873864, 874014, 873865, 873866, 873867, 873868, 873869, 873870, 873873.