The 30 January 2013 QLCS Tornado Event: Warning and Damage Survey Challenges for the Second Biggest Tornado Outbreak Ever Recorded for Middle Tennessee

During the pre-dawn hours of January 30, 2013, a severe and sometimes tornadic quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) charged across Middle Tennessee, causing widespread straight-line wind damage, as well as spawning 21 tornadoes. Although this tornado outbreak pales in comparison to the April 3-4, 1974 Super Outbreak, the January 30, 2013 event still became the second most prolific tornado outbreak in Middle Tennessee history. However, the typical mindset that tornadoes caused by QLCS's are often considered weaker, short-lived, and “spin-up” tornadoes may have actually held true in this event. Because of the erratic nature of the leading-line vortices, a very difficult operational warning environment ensued.

Presented here will be a quick qualitative review of the tornadic QLCS. More appropriately, recommended operational guidelines and warning techniques to employ during a similar tornadic QLCS event will be offered, as well as thoughts on conveying the threats from an event such as this to the public before and during it. Lastly, the challenges that our damage survey teams faced after the event, as well as recommendations for the future, will also be presented.