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 pockets of damaging wind, isolated large hail, and a couple of tornadoes.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 23:14:00 to 22-JAN-12 23:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: MURRAY
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 23:58:00 to 22-JAN-12 23:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: KELLY
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Small tree limbs were reported down at this same location. Winds were estimated near 55 mph.

Heavy Rain in MARSHALL, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 22:20:00 to 22-JAN-12 22:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: BENTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A Kentucky mesonet site measured 1.01 inches of rain in 30 minutes.

Hail in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 23:05:00 to 22-JAN-12 23:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: MURRAY
Magnitude: 2.00 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A swath of large hail occurred just southwest of Murray. Hail was up to the size of hen eggs a couple miles southwest of the city.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 23:55:00 to 22-JAN-12 23:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOPKINSVILLE
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A wind gust to 63 mph was measured at a Kentucky mesonet site.

Hail in BALLARD, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 21:53:00 to 22-JAN-12 21:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: MONKEYS EYEBROW
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in MARSHALL, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 23:00:00 to 22-JAN-12 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BENTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in HOPKINS, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 23:30:00 to 22-JAN-12 23:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: DAWSON SPGS
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated a wind gust to 60 mph. There were power outages in the area.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOPKINS, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 23:25:00 to 22-JAN-12 23:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHARLESTON
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 4.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Large trees were down or uprooted just west of Highway 109 near Charleston.

Thunderstorm Wind in DAVIESS, KENTUCKY
From 23-JAN-12 00:05:00 to 23-JAN-12 00:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: HABIT
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A mobile home received extensive damage.

Heavy Rain in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 22:45:00 to 22-JAN-12 23:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW PROVIDENCE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Several roads were flooded, but all of them were reopened by the morning commute.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCCRACKEN, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 22:15:00 to 22-JAN-12 22:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: AVONDALE HGTS
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A gas station canopy was damaged. A large metal pole supporting a business sign was snapped. The businesses were located on U.S. Highway 62 just west of Interstate 24.

Heavy Rain in CHRISTIAN, KENTUCKY
From 23-JAN-12 00:10:00 to 23-JAN-12 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CROFTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Minor flooding was reported on Highway 800 at an intersection in Crofton.

Hail in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 23:04:00 to 22-JAN-12 23:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: LYNN GROVE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 22:43:00 to 22-JAN-12 22:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: TATUMSVILLE
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A large metal shed sustained moderate damage. At least one metal exterior wall panel was pushed in, and the roof was partially blown off. A large hay barn was heavily damaged. A side wall of the barn was completely blown off. Several trees were blown down, and a couple trees were snapped off.

Thunderstorm Wind in GRAVES, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 22:16:00 to 22-JAN-12 22:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: DUBLIN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A tv/radio antenna was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in BALLARD, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 21:52:00 to 22-JAN-12 21:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: MONKEYS EYEBROW
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 4.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Downed trees were blocking Highway 473.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCLEAN, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 23:45:00 to 22-JAN-12 23:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: POVERTY
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 60.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Kentucky Highway 256 was closed from Kentucky Highway 140 to the Long Falls Creek bridge due to downed power lines and power poles.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCLEAN, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 23:47:00 to 22-JAN-12 23:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: GUFFIE
Magnitude: 74.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Two mobile homes were destroyed, and many trees were blown over. One of the mobile homes was abandoned, and the residents of the other mobile home were not at home. One of the mobile homes was left in the middle of a road about four miles north of Calhoun. Six power poles were blown over on Kentucky Highway 81 about six miles northeast of Calhoun. Kentucky Highway 140 was closed due to power lines and power poles across the road. A barn was destroyed less than a mile from the Daviess County line. The damage swath extended from just north of Calhoun northeast to the Daviess County line.

Thunderstorm Wind in TODD, KENTUCKY
From 23-JAN-12 00:20:00 to 23-JAN-12 00:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLIFTY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Damage was mainly to trees and a mobile home roof.

Thunderstorm Wind in DAVIESS, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 23:56:00 to 22-JAN-12 23:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: PANTHER
Magnitude: 74.00 EG
Property damage: 80.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A large section of roof was blown off a house. The roof was a flat roof with no anchors and a rather large overhang. Debris fell on one occupant of the house, who was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries such as scrapes and bruises. The house was damaged extensively. Nearby, three barns and a large tool shed were damaged or destroyed. Two of the barns were old wooden barns that were pushed and leaning over, but still on their foundations. The third barn was an old wooden barn that was destroyed. The tool shed was a steel-frame structure that was heavily damaged on one end. Beams were bent, and siding was torn off. Several small trees were uprooted along Highway 81, and one tree was snapped. Emergency responders could not reach the damaged house and injured person until debris was cleared from the road. All debris was blown toward the east-northeast. The damage swath was one-half to three-quarters of a mile wide.

Tornado in CALLOWAY, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-12 23:03:00 to 22-JAN-12 23:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: HAZEL
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Peak winds were estimated near 95 mph. Hundreds of trees were uprooted or snapped. Windows were blown out of a house, and shingles were damaged. Shutters were ripped off the house. Three barns were destroyed. Two garages were levelled. A section of roof was peeled off another garage. The porch roof of a business in Hazel was destroyed. A large tree fell across a truck.

Thunderstorm Wind in DAVIESS, KENTUCKY
From 23-JAN-12 00:06:00 to 23-JAN-12 00:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: BROWNWOOD MANOR
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Several power transmission poles were blown over a few miles east of Owensboro. A carport was blown away near Thruston.

Tornado in TODD, KENTUCKY
From 23-JAN-12 00:15:00 to 23-JAN-12 00:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLIFTY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 125.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Several trees were blown down. A barn and several greenhouses were damaged. Some shingles were blown off houses. The roof was blown off a garage that was part of a business. A camper trailer about 25 feet long was overturned and destroyed. A pool was damaged, and a grain bin was damaged. The tornado followed a path very close to Highway 107 before ending on the northeast side of Clifty. Peak winds were estimated near 80 mph. The average path width was 150 yards.