Good Sunday to one and all. We are closing out 2017 with bitterly cold temperatures and this will continue through the first full week of 2018. We are in full-blown FROZEN PIPES ALERT mode during this time. This is a dangerous air mass moving in for a prolonged period of time and that will cause some issues.
Let’s start with the remaining hours of 2017 and the potential for light snow and flurries. We are likely to see another light snow maker impacting the northern parts of the state, bringing light accumulations that can cover roads again.
Once that zips by, watch the northwesterly wind this evening. It can generate a few snow showers and flurries for those New Year’s Eve plans in central and eastern Kentucky.
Now, let’s get bitter. Here’s a breakdown on the cold coming:
- Temps start the day in the single digits for many, with a wind chill below zero. Highs only reach the teens for much of the state with a wind chill in the singles.
- Temps by New Year’s Moring range from 0 to -5 in the far north, to 0 to 8 for the rest of the state. Wind chills will be from 0 to -10.
- Tuesday morning looks to be the coldest of the bunch. Lows hit zero in many areas and may reach as low as -10 in the north. Wind chill temps will be from -5 to -15.
- This is a dangerously cold air mass, so take any necessary precautions to get ready for it.
After a “not quite as cold” day on Wednesday, bitterly cold temps return from Thursday through Saturday. Similar numbers to what is upon us, may show up during this time. This happens behind a huge east coast winter storm that’s likely to get going.
The flow behind this will be strong and from the northwest…
Combine that flow with upper level energy swinging through and you can sometimes get widespread snow showers and squalls. That’s a real possibility, and something for us to watch for.
An interesting system will come our way by next weekend, ahead of another big push of very cold air for the following weekend.
I have you guys all set to track today’s flakes…
Hamburg Area from WKYT Studio
Lexington
Fifth Third Pavilion Live Cam
Downtown Lexington
I-275 approaching KY 20/Airport
Near Covington
I-71/I-75 at Buttermilk Pike
Near Covington
I-71/I-75 at 12th St.
Covington
US 60 @ US 127
Frankfort
Downtown Louisville @ 2nd & Broadway
Louisville
I-64 at KY-801
Near Morehead
Maysville
Updates will come your way later today, so check back. Make it a good one and take care.
And here I am in central Illinois tonight, and it is showing with an air temp of -1°…who said it couldn’t snow because it’s too cold?? I think that’s just a Kentucky thing.
I use to think it could be too cold to snow until about ten years ago. During college, I chanced upon a brief feature on TWC showing that while there may be a far smaller window for snow to form in extreme cold, basically temperatures can’t get too cold to snow. It was pointed out that part of Minnesota had just received a couple inches snow even though the temperature was almost 30 below zero F.
BTW, couldn’t resist checking the temperatures at this very early morning hour; currently single digits along I-64, teens covering much of the I-40 corridor in Tennessee.
Yeah, it’s 13 in Crossville, 22 in Kingston along i-40 just west of Knoxville, and it’s 21 here at watts bar lake about 30 minutes south of I-40. You know the sad thing about this artic outbreak is that there isn’t a snowstorm or snowstorms to go along with it, so people won’t even remember the Dynamics of this artic outbreak…to think the lower (Valley) locations of south east TN! Gonna be below freezing for days on end without a snowpack! Now that is down right impressive.. just imagine how ridiculously cold it could get with snow on the ground…
I have survived worse. Bring it on, nature!
It also helps to know our house has gone through far worse cold, considering that our “basement” is actually just an unheated crawlspace (risk of frozen pipes). This house experienced the January 1985 cold wave in which Nashville dropped to an all time record low of minus 17.
Still, my wife and I have only lived here a short time so there is still a bit of an unknown factor. On the other hand, at least our crawlspace can be a decent tornado shelter…..some homes in our neighborhood don’t even have crawlspaces.
Copper pipe is notorious for freezing and bursting. Back in the late 1970’s I had to sweat many copper pipes that burst in my irrigation lines. The house I live in now is plumb with Pix pipe. This type of pipe will expand when it freezes but will not break. It would take a long spell of extreme cold to break it, like minus 35 degrees for weeks. Temperatures not likely in central Kentucky. Do not use CPVC for plumbing your house, as it will not last and will come apart without freezing.
I think you mean Pex pipe. It’s been used for quite a number of years now & most plumbers use it.
Being in the construction business I will add to your post by saying it is true “pex” pipe is by far the best plumbing money can buy, however it is somewhat irresponsible to state that cpvc will not last and to come apart…don’t scare folks by saying things like that. When properly fitted with proper glue and cleaner, as well as using good pipe insulation in weather prone locations, cpvc will last forever (without an extra bad freeze) and never come apart.
Thanks for your expert comments. The last thing we need is somebody spreading panic.
Thanks for spelling pex pipe for me, and I’m sorry for reporting a negative on the CPVC. I have, however heard not to use CPVC to plumb a home.
Doc, remembers his ol grand daddy telling him that it is too cold to snow much too, isn’t it amazing how alot of the old proverbs used way back ring loud and true? Again I’ll reiterate until we can get those polar and sub jet streams to phase up and the atmosphere to moderate us out of this ice box state any appreciative snows will be to our North and deep South.Heres hoping everyone a happy and safe New Years…Doc Wx.
For the first time in my life I like to see some cold rain.
You might have to accept cold dry or warm dry, who knows what’s down the proverbial road ?
Thanks Chris. Looks like we are in for some nasty cold. Please check on your pets. And elderly neighbors. Make sure there is plenty of fuel in your vehicles, and that the battery is good. Most of all of traveling anywhere make sure you have stuff on your vehicle to snack on and to keep you warm in case of trouble. Ok, off the soapbox Now. Have a phenomenal last day of 2017!
Just saw something interesting was watching agriculture weather this morning he showed the long range weather he showed January stormy and normal to above normal temperatures and February stormy and much below average temperatures for Kentucky we shall see what happens little different than what cb saying but at least their hope winter not over after this cold spell
You have to use logic and being on earth for 66 years to predict, which is the same as guessing. This cold spell, which is not that bad, it’s the dryness which concerns me the most. My county is now in a moderate drought. Now looking forward to more changeable weather maybe by next weekend. Everyone have a safe and happy New Years Eve.
How about an “educated” guess?
Last night around midnight I had 5 degrees here in Jackson County Ohio. And now it is at 12. Suppose to get a little more snow today. We have 2 to 2 1/2 on the ground now. Static electricity is bad right now. If you hold a piece of metal in your hand before you open a door it will jump to the metal and you won’t get nailed by it or not quite as bad. Another thing you can do is when getting out of your car open your door and grab the metal above your window with you hand and hold it there. Then put your foot on the ground and you won’t get shocked. But don’t let your leg contact the side of the door casing. The static electricity will discharge into the ground you won’t feel a thing.
Try putting a dryer sheet in each back pocket. Sounds crazy, but it works and you’ll smell good. Lol
This will end up being the first December with below normal temps in Lexington since 2010. No where near close to a record cold December. Anyone else remember December of 1989?
I remember December 1989. I was still in business in southwest Indiana and the frigid Arctic air was probably the worse since the winter of 1976-77. Don’t know how low the temperature drop to, but I do remember the high temperature on one day was minus five and there wasn’t any snow cover. Very dry Arctic air. After New Years day the temperatures went above normal and spring came early with it’s usual tornado outbreaks. An EF- 5 hit the south side of Petersburgh, Indiana with the aftermath of a lot of damage to buildings and trees. Summer came early and was hot and dry clear to Autumn.
Anyone familiar with my posts knows how I feel about rain, but at this point I’ll gladly take some which of course would mean this ridiculous snowless cold would be gone with its arrival.
We will take rain as any chances for a significant snow event are off the table. What we don’t want is an ice event, like we had back in January 2009.
Been following the System on the EC..So close to a big daddy..lol If you could get a phase earlier would be quite a snow storm up and down the coast..
http://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis/models/gfs/2017123112/gfs_z500_vort_us_12.png
Hey cold rain what does this map means?
GFS is BS. The convergence ( where the two energies come together ) is east of Boston, Ma. The nor’easter would most likely occur on the coast of Maine.
Thanks Chris. Hope there are no power cuts with the current fold snap. At least no ice to contend with. I did notice that the models seem to be hinting at rain by the following week. Maybe even the dreaded backside flurries. Though the models have been terrible at any system more than five days out, so who can say.
Here in Pennsylvania getting more snow expecting another 2 inches to go on top of the 7 inches on the ground also Temp outside 7 degrees.
Are you near Butler, Pa. ? My late father and I would visit a Nursery there just off route 8. Name of the Nursery was O. S. Pride nursery. He specialized in Rhododendrons. Enjoy the snow, always fun.
Please wake up Rodger when there’s a hint of measurable snow in the forecast. This pattern is rotten and will double or triple many utility bills. Rodger in Dodger
Does not look too promising for any measurable snow this coming week just a lot of cold. The subtropical jet is just not active, being that the polar jet is steeling all of the energy. I guess this is what we can expect with an ENSO La nina winter.
Wasted cold and nothing in the foreseeable future to track. This might be worse than last year.
Definitely worse than last year. At least last winter was mild and could still do some outdoor activities.
Kinda funny yesterday Charleston NWS had 30% chance of snow for my area. And it snowed almost all day got about an inch or so. Today they have a 60% chance of snow and not a flake to be seen.
Typical Kentucky weather. When it’s cold, there’s not a chance of snow & when moisture appears, it’s too warm. A snowy winter is already out of the question for Kentucky….again.
I saw the January 2018 noaa forecast…shows Ky as having a normal Jan re temperatures. Perhaps the last half will offset the first half.
I’m doubting any real warming this month January looks cold.
Should I say starting tomorrow which will be January lol
It seems like we have been mostly precipitation(less) for the longest time – rain or snow. It’s amazing I just looked at the year to date annual precip for Lexington and it’s over 49 inches. That is above normal. It’s weird because I don’t feel like we have had any good precip (rain or snow) in a long time. It’s been so BORING. I wasn’t here in Jan 89. But since living here starting Aug , 1996, I don’t remember this kind of cold with no snow.. Although reading other posts, it’s happened before. I remember the early 2000s, I think it was 02/03, that winter was cold all the way through from start to finish, but we had a couple of ankle biters then that horrible ice storm.
Oh, I almost forgot. Happy New Year 🙂
Would love to see some snow in Southern Kentucky. I rarely post but enjoy reading the comments. Hope everyone has a blessed and snowy new year. We can always dream of snow.