 An unusual feature of this outbreak was that daytime heating , typically a key ingredient in the formation of tornadoes , had very little impact on their development . Rather , as the storm system pulled out into the central plains , strong thunderstorms and tornadoes quickly began to form despite the late hours . The first two tornadoes in the outbreak touched down after 10 : 00 p.m. CST on January 9 in Oklahoma and Louisiana . From there the progression of the twisters shifted eastward through the overnight and early morning hours , setting the stage for what would turn out to be a record setting day on January 10 . Texas saw five tornadoes between 1 : 30 a.m. – 3 : 30 a.m. , one tornado touched down in Arkansas at 6 : 00 a.m. , Louisiana saw seven tornadoes between 5 : 30 a.m. – 8 : 00 a.m. ( killing one person ) , Mississippi had five tornadoes between 8 : 15 a.m. – 10 : 00 a.m. ( killing nine ) , and Illinois and Indiana each experienced three lunch @-@ hour tornadoes . The tornadic line of storms then shifted into Alabama ( killing one ) and Florida during the afternoon and evening hours . 
