Good Tuesday to one and all. Winter weather is heading back into Kentucky in the coming days as we slip into what may become a rather wild pattern over the next couple of weeks. If you like snow and cold, you should really be licking your chops with this kind of setup.

Let’s get this party started by talking about what’s going on today. Temps will start the day in the upper 40s and low 50s then drop toward the low 40s from west to east this afternoon. A few gusty showers will also be noted as a cold front swings through the region.

Current temperatures

Colder air continues to filter in right on through Wednesday with highs only in the 30s. A stray snow flurry will also be possible.

This brings us into a pattern featuring a couple of potential snow makers from later this week into the weekend. I’m seeing a couple of trends emerging: 1. The Thursday system is showing up a little stronger. 2. The weekend system is showing up a little weaker.

Let’s start with the Thursday system as it’s piquing my interest a little more the closer we get. The European Model is now spitting out more of a widespread light snow and flurry maker for much of the state…

Euro

It continues to show the greatest potential across the west and south, but the whole setup is showing up a little stronger. If this trend continues, we might have to talk about the possibility of sticking snows for some. The new version of the GFS is even picking up on this much better than earlier runs…

GFS

It doesn’t show this to the extent of the European, but this model basically had nothing coming from prior runs.

As far as the weekend winter storm potential goes… I suspect what happens with that storm will be impacted by the Thursday system. It’s no coincidence we are seeing the models trending a little stronger for Thursday and a touch weaker for Saturday. That’s because we’re getting a little more energy sneaking out instead of hanging back and bundling into one strong storm. Of course… that’s the latest flavor of the models and that may all change with ensuing runs.

It’s not like the European Model isn’t still showing a decent system Friday night into Saturday…

Euro 2

That’s actually indicating a pretty good hit of winter weather across much of Kentucky.

Model variations are common and that’s what we will continue to see for another few days. It may not be until later Wednesday or Thursday before things really clear up.

Moral of the weather story… This is a setup that really bears watching as it could deliver a nice hit of winter over a busy travel weekend.

Christmas week will see another MAJOR buckle in the jet stream and that should provide this region and much of the eastern half of the country with a big blast of winter. The models continue to key on a possible system Christmas Eve and Day with the new version of the GFS going hog wild…

GFS 2

That is, obviously, on the extreme end of the spectrum, but the pattern is ripe for something to crank up around the time Santa arrives.

I will have more updates later today. Have a good one and take care.