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A powerful upper level trough moved across the United States from January 29, 2013 into January 30, 2013. This system contained unusually strong winds aloft, with wind speeds of 80 mph just 2,500 feet above the surface and up to 150 mph at 20,000 feet!  A record warm airmass with temperatures in the 60s and 70s spread northward ahead of the system into the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys, bringing weak atmospheric instability into the region.  As a powerful cold front moved eastward across the Mid State during the early morning hours of January 30, a line of showers and thunderstorms known as a Quasi-Linear Convective System (QLCS) developed and raced through the area, producing numerous tornadoes and widespread wind damage.  This severe weather event resulted in 1 fatality and at least 3 injuries across the Mid State.

As of March 31, 2013, 23 tornado tracks have been confirmed by NWS Nashville personnel and Emergency Management Agencies.  Another EF1 tornado was confirmed in Lincoln County by NWS Huntsville staff.  This total of 24 tornadoes makes the January 30, 2013 event the largest January tornado outbreak in Middle Tennessee history, eclipsing the previous record of 12 tornadoes that occurred on January 24, 1997.  It also makes January 30, 2013 the second biggest outbreak of tornadoes for any month in Middle Tennessee history.  The largest tornado outbreak on record occurred on April 3, 1974 when at least 24 tornadoes struck the Mid State. Also of note - several of these tornadoes were the first January tornadoes ever recorded in many of the affected counties.