Daily Archives: January 2, 2012

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to a wintry day. We’re getting in on widespread snow showers and squalls and these will continue to kick it up a notch into this evening. Gusty winds and arctic air provide round out the winter blast.

We have already received reports of the heavier snow squalls dropping close to an inch of snow in a very short period of time. Other areas have only seen a coating here or there. Welcome to the world of snow showers and squalls. With the action becoming more widespread… more and more real estate will get in on some of the heavier action… especially in the central and east. Roads will become snow covered at times in these heavier snow squalls and that trend will increase as the sun sets.

I have no changes to my thoughts from the past few days. As I’ve mentioned… some areas may come in with the over while others come in under the forecast. As long as you understand that’s to be expected in this setup… we will all get along just fine.

Watch for a plume of moisture from Lake Michigan to get involved later this evening into early Tuesday. That may aim right at parts of northern eastern Kentucky and can really give the squalls a boost.

Temps today will generally hang in the upper 20s before falling into the teens tonight. Tuesday will see low and mid 20s central and east with low 30s west.

I am still watching late Wednesday into early Thursday for some possible light snow sneaking in from the northwest as a system dives into the Ohio Valley. I realize the GFS doesn’t show this so you won’t hear it being discussed as a possibility anywhere else.

Friday will see temps rebound ahead of another trough digging in over the coming weekend. This one may have a storm associated with it that comes from the south and rides up the east coast. That’s something to watch as there are now STRONG signs of a prolonged wintry pattern taking us through January. Time will tell on how that works out.

Let’s track some snow and cold…



Current Temps



More updates as needed and I will continue to blow up your twitter feed. Take care.

Good Monday and welcome to winter. Today is what all you cold and snow lovers have been craving for the past few months. This isn’t some big storm blasting the region, but it’s a heck of a shot of arctic air and bursts of snow that we’re dealing with.

I have some tools for you guys to track the cold and snow, but I want to touch on a few things first.

Snow showers and squalls will break out across the region today and some of the action may be quite intense. Think of the squalls as summertime thunderstorms… they blow throw with blinding conditions and very gusty winds and then they are gone. Areas getting in on the squalls can pick up some fast accumulations and even hear a clap of thunder. Check out the NAM simulated radar through today…



You can actually see the enhanced bands showing up on that. Snow showers and squalls will carry us into Tuesday and will continue to get a booster shot of moisture from the Great Lakes.

Here’s my latest thinking on snowfall…



I want to stress that we’re dealing with snow showers and squalls and that makes it hard to really broadbrush totals on a map. Some areas getting under repeat squalls may pick up totals higher than forecast while those that are skipped may come up a bit short. The farther west you live into central and western Kentucky, the less confident I am on totals until I can see exactly how the radar sets up.

I do expect travel problems at times today and slick travel becomes likely this evening and overnight as temps drop into the teens. Winds will continue to be gusty an will blow the dry snow around.

Highs today will stay in the mid and upper 20s for many with low and mid 20s on Tuesday. The gusty winds will make it feel even colder than that. Brrrrr!

Let’s track the blast of winter…



Current Temps



Lexington


Pikeville


Middlesboro


Whitley County


Frankfort


Louisville


Covington


Ashland

I will have updates as needed and will be sending out some rapid fire thoughts and reports via twitter. Have a great Monday and take care.