Deep low pressure moved across the southern Great Lakes the morning of January 17. A cold front associated with this storm swept southeast of the Ohio River during the early afternoon hours. Fueled by unseasonably warm and moist air, a squall line developed across southeastern Missouri and southern Illinois during the early morning and moved across all of southern Indiana during the late morning hours. Embedded within this line were several bowing segments and mesovorticies. Scattered wind damage and several brief tornadoes were reported. The nine tornadoes surveyed across both southern Indiana and central Kentucky made this date the most prolific regional January outbreak recorded.

Flood in JEFFERSON, INDIANA
From 17-JAN-12 23:45:00 to 18-JAN-12 03:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: DEPUTY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Heavy rains from a squall line the previous day caused a quick rise on the Muscatatuck River at Deputy. Flood stage at Deputy is 20 feet. The river crested around 20.2 feet at 1 AM EST on January 18. Minor flooding occurs at this level.

Tornado in CLARK, INDIANA
From 17-JAN-12 11:06:00 to 17-JAN-12 11:07:00 (EST-5)
Location: JEFFERSONVILLE ARPT
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF-0 tornado touched down at the Wal-Mart parking lot on the northwest corner of the Veteran's Parkway near Interstate 65.  After overturning a vehicle on I-65, the twister skipped an area before entering a subdivision east of the Interstate Highway. Damage occurred along Belmar and Meadows Drive as well as the intersection of Kingsfield Street and Crown Court.  Several fences were knocked down.  After removing the roof of a barn near Armstrong Road, the tornado lifted. Maximum winds were estimated at 75 mph.

Tornado in JEFFERSON, INDIANA
From 17-JAN-12 10:40:00 to 17-JAN-12 10:41:00 (EST-5)
Location: SMYRNA
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A person witnessed a weak tornado that damaged an airplane and a hanger at the Madison Municipal County Airport.  Damage occurred along IMS Lane.  A 500 pound dumpster was moved 35 feet.  A Beechcraft twin engine plane was rotated 10 degrees, losing its nose gear in the process.  The airport operations building had a disabled awning.  A portion of a hanger's siding came off with some siding and insulation found in trees. Several trees were toppled. Maximum winds were estimated to be 85 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in JEFFERSON, INDIANA
From 17-JAN-12 10:41:00 to 17-JAN-12 10:42:00 (EST-5)
Location: SMYRNA
Magnitude: 83.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A microburst just east of an observed tornado damaged several buildings along Clifty Drive, which is located just east of the Madison Municipal County Airport.  A carport at a residence on Long Way was thrown across the street.  Farther east, significant roof damage was noted to the main building of the Clifty Engineering and Tool Company in the 2900 block of Clifty Drive.  Additional roof damage occurred to a storage building next to the main building.  A tree was toppled.  This microburst had estimated winds of 90 to 95 mph and developed over an area of 150 by 75 yards.

Tornado in FLOYD, INDIANA
From 17-JAN-12 11:00:00 to 17-JAN-12 11:02:00 (EST-5)
Location: FLOYDS KNOBS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF-1 tornado with estimated winds of 95 to 100 mph first touched down along East Riley Road, where a garage was destroyed.  Multiple trees were downed further east along Binford Road.  After crossing Paoli Pike just north of Interstate 265, and just before lifting, the tornado damaged some roofs at the Knob Point Apartments.  Maximum wind speeds were estimated to be between 95 and 100 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in DUBOIS, INDIANA
From 17-JAN-12 09:49:00 to 17-JAN-12 09:49:00 (EST-5)
Location: HUNTINGBURG
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A local newspaper reported that a semi truck overturned on U.S. 231 just north of Phoenix Drive due to strong winds.

Tornado in DUBOIS, INDIANA
From 17-JAN-12 09:54:00 to 17-JAN-12 10:03:00 (EST-5)
Location: HUNTINGBURG
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF-1 tornado touched down 3 miles northeast of Huntingburg, destroying a barn and blowing several buildings off their foundations.  It then skipped northeast for nearly 9 miles across primarily open fields. Structural damage occurred along Indiana State Road 162 where 50 feet of a 600 foot long commercial building was destroyed.   One half mile east of State Road 162, a small grain hopper was toppled.  Farther northeast, adjacent to Saint Anthony Road West, a roof was removed from one barn while another had severe damage.  Occasional uprooted and snapped trees were surveyed over the next 5 miles. The tornado dissipated after destroying a 40 to 50 foot shed 1.6 miles south-southeast of Celestine. Maximum winds were estimated at 95 mph.

Tornado in DUBOIS, INDIANA
From 17-JAN-12 09:44:00 to 17-JAN-12 09:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: HOLLAND
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 4.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF-0 tornado briefly touched down 2.7 miles southwest of Huntingburg.  An outbuilding was destroyed with debris scattered into trees for a quarter of a mile to the east.  Maximum winds were estimated at 80 mph.