Episode narrative: During the morning hours of January 12th, an area of low pressure moved through the Ohio Valley downstream of an upper trough across the mid-Mississippi Valley. The initial wave of storms along a warm front moved across north central Kentucky and southern Indiana during the pre-dawn hours, bringing generally sub-severe hail with isolated quarter-sized hail reports. Storms along this boundary were not surface based, but were able to utilize 500-1000 J/kg MUCAPE via steep mid-level lapse rates to produce convection which was of sufficient depth and strength to produce hailstones. Wind shear was more than sufficient for sustaining convection throughout the event, with anywhere from 50-60 kt effective bulk shear across central Kentucky. The second wave of severe convection formed ahead of the surface cold front, moving from west to east across the region during the early and mid-morning hours as a broken quasi-linear convective system (QLCS). Modest destabilization occurred ahead of this second line of storms; however, the antecedent near-surface inversion was able to erode, contributing to the development of 200-500 J/kg of SBCAPE. As a result, severe impacts transitioned from predominantly elevated ones to surface-based threats. While scattered straight-line wind damage was initially the dominant severe impact, convection encountered a local maximum in 0-1 km storm-relative helicity as it crossed Interstate 65, with greater than 300 m2/s2 0-1 km SRH analyzed on SPC hourly mesoscale analysis. In addition, the segment of the QLCS which passed through the Bluegrass region had an orientation which was more perpendicular to the 0-3 km bulk shear vector, indicating a greater potential for embedded tornadoes. Accordingly, appendages and breaks within the QLCS produced several brief tornadoes across the area, with tornadoes being reported in Henry, Mercer, Boyle, and Madison Counties. The line continued to push into eastern Kentucky during the late morning hours, with the severe threat ending shortly thereafter.

Tornado event in HENRY County, KENTUCKY
Start: 12-JAN-23 08:47:00
End: 12-JAN-23 08:49:00
Direct deaths: 0
Event narrative: The National Weather Service in Louisville conducted a storm survey near Pleasureville in Henry County for storms that occurred Thursday morning. The survey team determined the damage was consistent with an EF1 tornado with maximum winds of 110 mph.

The tornado first touched down on a farm about a mile west of Pleasureville along Hillspring Road (route 1359). A large barn had damage to doors and side walls, and the structural integrity of the building was compromised and leaning. Another nearby shed was completely removed from the foundation and destroyed. A two-by-four was protruding from the field that was thrown by the tornado to the southeast. The tornado continued east across Hillspring Road to another farm where a barn was completely destroyed. Debris from the barn was thrown 100 yards away to the east into a nearby field with debris lofted into the standing trees. Another two-by-four thrown by the tornado was observed to the north of the barn and protruding from the field.

The tornado continued east another mile into the town of Pleasureville along Williams Street and Main Street (State Route 241). Several trees were snapped and uprooted in this area, including some homes that had significant roof damage. One mobile home also received roof damage and was moved from the concrete foundational blocks. Mud splatter was observed on cars and homes in this area, ranging in the south to west directions. As the tornado crossed over Main Street, power lines were damaged and homes had more roof and tree damage. Several trees were uprooted with large branches snapped and twisted in varying directions. 

The tornado likely dissipated just to the east of homes damaged along Main Street in Pleasureville. No observable damage was evident along Castle Highway (US Route 421) looking west.

Tornado event in MERCER County, KENTUCKY
Start: 12-JAN-23 09:01:00
End: 12-JAN-23 09:05:00
Direct deaths: 0
Event narrative: The National Weather Service in Louisville conducted a storm damage survey in Mercer County for storms that rolled through during the mid-morning hours on January 12th. The survey found sporadic topping and twisting of trees on 165 Hunter Drive as well as 1111 Oakland Lane, where the tornado initially touched down. The damage was consistent with 70-75 mph wind gusts with a width of 80 yards. 

The tornado continued downstream to a farm on the south side of Cornishville Road. It had sporadic tree damage including snapping, topping, and twisting of some softwood trees. It then destroyed an older barn, throwing roofing from the barn up to 200 yards downwind. The winds were between 75 to 85 mph during this portion of the tornado path.

The tornado increased in intensity at 1966 Cornishville Road, causing significant roof and gutter damage to two homes. Several trees were snapped and twisted. A large, older barn sustained significant roof and side panel damage. The debris from the roofs of two houses along with the barn was thrown towards the north, east, and southeasterly directions. A few pieces from the roof of the house were impaled in the ground. Winds in this area were between 95 to 100 mph with a width of 75 yards.

The tornado became more intermittent as it moved off to the east northeast. There was sporadic minor tree damage and two flipped sets of bleachers on the west side of Kenneth D. King Middle School near the tennis courts. Winds that struck the bleachers were around 75 mph. The tornado then lifted before hitting the school.

Tornado event in BOYLE County, KENTUCKY
Start: 12-JAN-23 09:10:00
End: 12-JAN-23 09:11:00
Direct deaths: 0
Event narrative: The National Weather Service in Louisville conducted a storm damage survey in Boyle County for storms that rolled through during the mid-morning hours on January 12th. The survey team determined the damage was consistent with an EF1 tornado with maximum winds of 95 mph.

The initial touchdown occurred near the intersection of Tibbs Lane and Waterworks Road. A large, well-built garage sustained significant roof and side wall damage with a west side uplift of the foundation of the garage. The garage debris was thrown up to 150 yards to the east with portions of two-by-fours being driven into the ground. There were several trees topped, snapped, and uprooted facing from the north to the southeast. An owner of one of the homes was on his back porch and saw the tornado, and went into his basement. After some time, he came outside and two of his back porch support beams were bent and twisted. Winds in this area were determined to be 90 mph.

Aerial photography from a drone showed significant tree damage along Waterworks Road all the way to the Dix River. The drone showed that many trees were topped and/or twisted, and they were facing a northeasterly to southeasterly direction. At 2140 Waterworks Road, the worst damage occurred, with significant tree damage all around a well-built house that did not have any damage. At the back of the house, two very large hardwood trees were uprooted right next to each other, creating an enormous crater. Most significantly, one tree was facing due east and the other northeast. Additionally, a fairly well-built barn lost several roof panels. The owners of the house described a fifteen second deafening noise, with pine cones hitting their house from multiple directions. Winds at this house were estimated at 95 mph.

Drone photography showed the tree damage ended at the Dix River, but the survey team went across to the other side of the river to Taylor Road and Stoney Point Road in Garrard County, and no damage was found at all.

Tornado event in MADISON County, KENTUCKY
Start: 12-JAN-23 09:42:00
End: 12-JAN-23 09:45:00
Direct deaths: 0
Event narrative: A tornado developed on the backside of a squall line, first touching down just south of Runyon Grove. Near this location the tornado snapped several trees and caused major damage to a hay barn. The tornado continued northeast, where it caused damage to a chicken coop and dog run. The tornado continued into the Braemar subdivision where it caused damage to numerous trees and roof damage to several homes. The tornado lifted a travel trailer over a red sports car. This action resulted in the travel trailer being flipped on its side and rotated 90 degrees from its original orientation. The tornado continued northeast of the subdivision where it lifted shortly thereafter. No downstream damage was found.