Good afternoon, everyone. The bitterly cold temps are slowly beginning to ease as we head into a very active weather pattern for the week ahead. Here’s a quick update on how things look.
Clouds thicken up tonight into Monday as temps climb out of the cellar. Some very light snow and flurries will be possible during this time.
Showers increase on Tuesday and Carry us into Wednesday as temps take off. Some thunder and lightning will be possible during this time.
As the numbers climb, another brutally cold air mass is moving into the northern part of the country. Check out this contrast in temps by Thursday…
Watch how the battle zone sets up right on top of our region by Friday…
That’s pretty incredible and will lead to some nasty weather from the lower plains into the Ohio Valley. For us, you can see the line we are walking in terms of winter weather. It is my experience that arctic air tends to expand a littler farther south than models show from this far out. We will see how that works out in the coming days.
One thing is for sure, that type of temperature gradient is loaded with precipitation. Check out the straight up precipitation totals through next weekend on the models…
GFS
Canadian
Everything from flooding rains to snow and ice, to a combo of the three are possible late this week into next weekend.
This will be a very interesting week of weather tracking around here. Those extreme temperature gradients can throw some wild weather around.
Enjoy the rest of the day and take care.
ThanjsChris. Always interesting.
I know we’re shouldn’t mention it, but all the weather apps just show rain and 50’s for the next week. No mention of any other precip at all!
I absolutely loathe weather apps. I never pay attention to them. They are so generic and boring.
I always think the same thing! But only to compare. I much prefer chris Bailey’s blog/forecast above any of them!
Definitely trust Chris over the apps! Always just an interesting comparison! Chris… You should develop an APP!
The NWS shows over 50 on Friday. I definitely read this blog for all the detailed information, accompanying explanations and varying scenarios. I find it interesting that I do not see any other weather stations mentioning cold.
If it is going to rain please let it be warm.
Once again Central Kentucky finds itself on the infamous edge of a system. But close to a week out we’ll see 10 different scenarios between now and then.
Hey MikeM,
You know the old weather rule here in KY. When there’s cold no moisture, when there’s moisture no cold. That’s what I learned from Bubba G. years and years ago! Lol!
We want warm air to win. Fence with cold would probably be bad.
Hah, I put BuubaH.
Apparently some of guys wasn’t around during the 60’s and 70’s we had brittle winters back then compare what we get now. It just show how much our climate has change and I’m not a warmer climate believer it comes in cycles.
Ice Ice Baby….I know this won’t happen, but it would be nice if at least half that precip falls as Snow. I do like the comment that CB made about the cold air pushing further South. Puts the FENCE along the Ohio River. With overiding, warm moist air, it won’t be pretty.
Your the best Chris!
You do so much to keep ky safe
Looking at the P n o and the N A o the ingredients just aren’t there for conditions that would key to any winter weather for kentucky. Way to warm .With that being said stranger things happen. I can see central and northern Ohio and Indiana having a healthy ice storm.
Let the battle begin! Love winter precipitation, except ice. Would love some more snow, but not if it comes with an ice storm too.
The NWS shows over 50 for Friday for the area. I read this blog for all of the detailed information, explanations, and various scenarios. Surely hoping for the cold although not seeing it yet on any other weather stations.
Some places calling for 65 degrees on Thursday! Wow.
The 18z run appears to downplay the ice storm threat for KY. Looks like some sleet on Saturday followed by a pretty rapid warm-up with heavy rains into Monday/Tuesday.
Everyone sayin g nws shows 50 for ky….so is chris.. looking at his map it says 50 for cky on friday.
“His” map is from a model run probably same one that the NWS is using for their forecast
I think we are looking at a warmer and wetter than normal (on average) 2-3 weeks leading to Feb., at which time, cold and snow chances will return.
From all I have been reading looks like a lot of rain and mild temps. I know it is still early but I have feeling this is pretty much it for the Winter of 2017. Except for the dreaded backside flurries.
Give it a week to 10 days!
Next election- I’m voting for Chris! Thank you for your service
Any chance that stuff on radar reaches the ground tonight?