Good afternoon, everyone. The bluegrass state is turning into the proverbial frozen tundra as arctic cold winds send wind chill readings into the danger category. Light snow and flurries are flying, with a greater swath of light snow rolling in tonight.
Here’s a breakdown of how we roll with this:
Light snow showers and flurries will coat roads from time to time today as wind chills stay in the single digits.
Another arctic front works in tonight with a period of powdery snow becoming likely. Light accumulations are likely and that will cause travel issues to develop. Winds will blow the snow around.
Bitterly cold temps blow in with this system with actual lows ranging from -5 to 5 above in many areas.
Wind chills continue to be the main story. It’s going to feel like -5 to -20 at times from late tonight through Thursday morning. That’s some dangerous cold that will lead to issues if you’re outside for too long.
Another period of light snow may show up Wednesday night, especially in the west.
Overrunning snow and wintry precipitation is possible Thursday night and Friday as the bitter cold pulls out of town.
I’ll drop by for another update this evening. Until then, here are your tracking tools for the afternoon…
Hamburg Area from WKYT Studio Lexington
I-75 @ Newtown Pike Lexington
-75/I-64 Southern Split Lexington
Georgetown
I-64 at KY-801 Near Morehead
I-64 MP 97 Winchester
Mountain Parkway near Slade
Pine Mountain
Jenkins
Florence
Covington
Louisville
E-town
Bowling Green
Paducah
Make it a good one and take care.
21 Comments
BubbaG on January 29, 2019 at 1:05 pm
Thanks CB!
Snow globe snow is not so bad. Pretty to look and a snow pack would’ve made it sub zero around here for a few days. Seems a win to me 🙂
Jeff Hamlin on January 29, 2019 at 2:09 pm
A better way to look at it than some who would throw around gibberish about models and non-existent hype.
WM on January 29, 2019 at 3:40 pm
I’m with ya!
Coffeelady on January 29, 2019 at 1:10 pm
Thanks Chris. Too. Ad we didn’t get a good snow while it’s cold. But as usual, I see rain coming up in the forecast in the next week. Bet you it will not tease us and not show up! 😉 Have a good afternoon everyone and please check on you pets and elderly neighbors. And stay warm.
Ralph on January 29, 2019 at 2:00 pm
Gonna be too cold for Schroeder to hang around any playgrounds, that’s for sure!
One week after Barrow Alaska emerged from its lengthy “no sunrise” period, the daylight now is nearly 3.5 hours long and rapidly increasing. Oh, and by the way, temperature in Fairbanks was 23 degrees last hour, warmer than Lexington KY.
Analogs that I follow are showing parts of our region could receive at least 2″ snowfall for the Fri morning system. Scattered north, and isolated again in the south here in Kentucky.
Mike on January 29, 2019 at 3:11 pm
Sure, it’s cold, but for some perspective:
In Madison County (Mesonet site) on February 19th, 2015 it was -24 and the next day it hit -32. That’s air temp – not wind chill. The average wind speed was 3.2 mph (Mesonet, again). That made for wind chill of -43 (Using NOAA’s windchill calculator.) – I remember that morning – that was cold!
I thought the Mesonet site might be sending bad data but the same day Lewis County was -30, Harrison and Johnson – 27, and Owsley – 26. Five sites all recorded air temps less than -25!
Formerly from KY on January 29, 2019 at 4:50 pm
Heatwave coming next week.
Jeff Hamlin on January 29, 2019 at 5:54 pm
Relatively speaking, sure. 😉
Ruth on January 29, 2019 at 5:03 pm
I’m near Ripley, WV. Every county in my region has closed school tomorrow. Other than the cold, is there something else coming along with this? I know a bit of snow is expected but every school is closed. Seems a bit strange..I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon that I’m now wondering if I should reschedule…
Debbie on January 29, 2019 at 5:17 pm
They are closing because of the wind chill factors being so low when kids are at the bus stops in the a.m..
Schroeder on January 29, 2019 at 5:55 pm
I just read several articles written by several meteorologist and found out why this winter has been so uneventful as far as snowfall in the Ohio River Valley. Simply put most said it’s the absent of the blocking Greenland High and the split of the Polar Vortex into sisters. One piece of this as you know is affecting our weather at the present. Could not understand all of the terminology though.
SkiWi on January 29, 2019 at 6:22 pm
WOW! Close to 70 degrees next week. Talk about crazy swings! Should be good skiing this weekend.
Thanks CB!
Snow globe snow is not so bad. Pretty to look and a snow pack would’ve made it sub zero around here for a few days. Seems a win to me 🙂
A better way to look at it than some who would throw around gibberish about models and non-existent hype.
I’m with ya!
Thanks Chris. Too. Ad we didn’t get a good snow while it’s cold. But as usual, I see rain coming up in the forecast in the next week. Bet you it will not tease us and not show up! 😉 Have a good afternoon everyone and please check on you pets and elderly neighbors. And stay warm.
Gonna be too cold for Schroeder to hang around any playgrounds, that’s for sure!
Ralph, is there any thing else you can do besides bashing people that’s not what this blog is for.
No biggie. I’m fairly sure Schroeder wouldn’t play with ya, anyway! 😀
Thanks. 😉
Ralph, this comment makes me really angry. Just stick to saying thanks.
-62 wind chill at Flag Island MN this morning
International Falls expecting -55 to -65 wind chill readings
One week after Barrow Alaska emerged from its lengthy “no sunrise” period, the daylight now is nearly 3.5 hours long and rapidly increasing. Oh, and by the way, temperature in Fairbanks was 23 degrees last hour, warmer than Lexington KY.
Analogs that I follow are showing parts of our region could receive at least 2″ snowfall for the Fri morning system. Scattered north, and isolated again in the south here in Kentucky.
Sure, it’s cold, but for some perspective:
In Madison County (Mesonet site) on February 19th, 2015 it was -24 and the next day it hit -32. That’s air temp – not wind chill. The average wind speed was 3.2 mph (Mesonet, again). That made for wind chill of -43 (Using NOAA’s windchill calculator.) – I remember that morning – that was cold!
I thought the Mesonet site might be sending bad data but the same day Lewis County was -30, Harrison and Johnson – 27, and Owsley – 26. Five sites all recorded air temps less than -25!
Heatwave coming next week.
Relatively speaking, sure. 😉
I’m near Ripley, WV. Every county in my region has closed school tomorrow. Other than the cold, is there something else coming along with this? I know a bit of snow is expected but every school is closed. Seems a bit strange..I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon that I’m now wondering if I should reschedule…
They are closing because of the wind chill factors being so low when kids are at the bus stops in the a.m..
I just read several articles written by several meteorologist and found out why this winter has been so uneventful as far as snowfall in the Ohio River Valley. Simply put most said it’s the absent of the blocking Greenland High and the split of the Polar Vortex into sisters. One piece of this as you know is affecting our weather at the present. Could not understand all of the terminology though.
WOW! Close to 70 degrees next week. Talk about crazy swings! Should be good skiing this weekend.
Better yet, go out skiing tonight in your shorts, and please do send us those selfish shots.
Selfie….auto correct issue
Not really. I actually have to work in this tonight. That’s not going to be fun.