Good Wednesday, everyone and welcome to the frozen tundra of Kentucky. Snow and blowing snow are ushering in dangerously cold wind chills across our entire region. This is the true definition of harsh winter weather around these parts, but we’re not alone in dealing with it. Historic temps and wind chills are showing up across a large part of the country.
The early day snow system is a high impact travel event. 1″-3″ of arctic snows will fall in many areas, with blowing and some drifting snow showing up. This is actually making for some pretty awesome scenes playin out. Unfortunately, many roads are snow covered and may not improve much throughout the day. Stay safe if you’re travelling.
The main show of the day is the bitterly cold temps and dangerously cold wind chills. It may feel like -10 to -20 at times today into tonight. That’s in the danger category, so take all necessary precautions of you have to be outdoors for any period of time.
Another light snow maker tries to work across the state later tonight into Thursday morning. The greatest impact from this may be across the western half of the state. A few more travel issues are possible.
After another frigid day on Thursday, the Polar Vortex begins to lift out. That allows overrunning moisture to develop quickly Thursday night and Friday. I’m concerned about icy roads developing as a mixture of snow, freezing rain and rain moves in. It’s a setup where we have a frozen ground, with road temps well below freezing. Even for areas getting rain, icy roads can sometimes develop because of the frozen ground.
I’ll talk more about all that and what comes after that with my next updates. Until then, let’s do some tracking…
The Wind Chill Advisory is covering several counties also under the Winter Weather Advisory on this map,,,
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
Keep warm and stay safe today. Have a good one and take care.
39 Comments
Prelude on January 30, 2019 at 2:58 am
Did Jefferson County in Louisville get a 1-3 inch snowfall? Sure looks that way to me judging by the traffic cameras. Looks like Louisville had there own separate overachiever snow compared to others.
Prelude on January 30, 2019 at 3:28 am
Last thing what was the snow ratio for Louisville when the snow was falling it had to be ridiculous??
Ray on January 30, 2019 at 3:32 am
Prelude, it sure looks like it. We’re getting light snow in Richmond as the wind is blowing it and making it appear as white out conditions
Through midnight, Louisville had officially recorded 1.3″. But, additional accumulation took place after midnight. The melted amount was just 0.03″ through midnight. That is an astounding 43:1 ratio. The numbers will be updated after noontime but would think Louisville came in between 1.5 and 2.0″. My place in Valley Station, I measured 1.3″ consistently, but that snow was blown all over the place
feederband on January 30, 2019 at 7:21 am
I have 2.25 of snow on my deck and I’m about three miles due west of the airport as the crow flies. My yard is covered. It really picked up about 10 last nigh.
Andy Rose on January 30, 2019 at 6:05 am
I really do not understand this weather. I go to bed its 14 degrees an artic front is supposed to come through overnight I wake up and its 26 at 6 am
Snow, at least an inch in Morehead, KY. Temp is 17 at 6:30, no school in Rowan County today, obviously. (as of last nights phone call) But, I really didn’t expect the snow…
Schroeder on January 30, 2019 at 6:45 am
Currently 12 degrees with about an inch of snow on the ground here in the hills of central Kentucky.
Schroeder on January 30, 2019 at 7:40 am
I found the facts on weather control but Chris’s rejected to post it. It was a interesting article.
Cold-Rain on January 30, 2019 at 8:58 am
Facts about what Schroeder..You do know sometimes when you post if one word looks suspicious or not for the kids ears it goes in la la land..
Schroeder on January 30, 2019 at 11:42 am
Military using weather manipulation as a war weapon.
Jim B on January 30, 2019 at 6:45 am
I think we equaled our biggest snow fall of the year here in south central haha, and it’s collllldddd
15 this morning. That’s cold but not unusually cold. Perhaps the PV decided to hangout in Chicago. But we did get about 1/2 inch of snow – perhaps the most snow so far this winter.
Jim B on January 30, 2019 at 7:32 am
15 is not the “feels like” temp though, the wind chill is no joke
mike on January 30, 2019 at 9:36 am
Sure, I get it. But 15 air temp and the related ‘feels like” is not than unusual. It’s cold – for sure but not unusually cold. Look back to Feb. 2015 for unusually cold.
Jim B on January 30, 2019 at 10:53 am
Correct, I didn’t use the word unusual,just said it was cold….
schroeder on January 30, 2019 at 7:36 am
The core Polar Vortex is currently moving into Greenland.
Coffeelady on January 30, 2019 at 8:19 am
Thanks Chris. I have a favor to ask. Next time a winter weather advisory is issued leave Pulaski county out of it. We get more snow when we are not in one than we do when we are!!! But the extreme wind chills are a sure thing this morning! Whew! Wind chill cut you in half! Please stay in today unless you have to get out.
Formerly from KY on January 30, 2019 at 8:27 am
Kentucky home of the dusting snowfall.
Prelude on January 30, 2019 at 8:35 am
Unless you’re in Louisville
feederband on January 30, 2019 at 8:44 am
The wind has really kicking in Louisville and another band of snow is moving through. My weimaraner loves the weather more than I do. I’m with Prelude, 80’s and low humidity.
Dave L on January 30, 2019 at 8:33 am
Queen Elsa must be in a bad mood!
Bjenks on January 30, 2019 at 8:47 am
Looked at radar at 10pm and little band of snow looked to be moving through Louisville. Seven hours and five properties later I was still shoveling snow and throwing salt. Snow ratios had to be 25-30:1 easily. Stopped snowing completely at 315. I’d say 2-3 inches total for most of my stops. NAM showed 0.5 and Canadian 1.5….yesterday morning. I would say overachiever.
feederband on January 30, 2019 at 8:56 am
Definitely an overachiever. At ten last night, it was snowing and blowing around. Woke up with 2.25 at my place in LouMetro. School would’ve been called this morning due to the snow.
Prelude on January 30, 2019 at 9:42 am
Yeah but my question is with the NAM and Canadian model showing anywhere between 0.5-1.5 was that at a 10:1 snow ratio? I saw a Twitter post where the snow ratio in Louisville was 40:1.
Bjenks on January 30, 2019 at 10:09 am
Prelude….That is a good point. Def a dry and easy to push snow.
Tom on January 30, 2019 at 8:49 am
At 8:30 this morning Boone County Mesonet went below zero…first of several more to come over the next 24 hrs.
Jared from Letcher County on January 30, 2019 at 9:07 am
Jared from Letcher County on January 30, 2019 at 9:13 am
The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a
* Snow Squall Warning for… Northwestern Mason County in northern Kentucky… Robertson County in northern Kentucky… Bracken County in northern Kentucky… Pendleton County in northern Kentucky… Southeastern Clermont County in southwestern Ohio… Brown County in southwestern Ohio… Northern Adams County in southwestern Ohio… Western Pike County in southwestern Ohio… Southern Highland County in southwestern Ohio… Northwestern Scioto County in southwestern Ohio… Southwestern Ross County in southwestern Ohio…
* Until 1000 AM EST.
* At 907 AM EST, a dangerous snow squall was located along a line extending from near Hillsboro to Falmouth, moving southeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD…Brief whiteout conditions. Near zero visibility in snow and blowing snow. Wind gusts up to 30 mph.
SOURCE…Radar,webcams, and public reports.
IMPACT…Dangerous life-threatening travel.
* Locations impacted include… Maysville, Georgetown, Falmouth, Waverly, Mount Orab, West Union, Piketon, Peebles, Ripley, Aberdeen, Augusta, Winchester, Marshall, Sardinia, Seaman, Bainbridge, Felicity, Brooksville, Butler and Highland Holiday.
Andy Rose on January 30, 2019 at 9:21 am
Current temps is at 22 with a 21mph wind gust brings wind chill down to 3
Jared from Letcher County on January 30, 2019 at 9:23 am
The snow squall that just went through Jackson seems to have knocked their radar out…
Prelude on January 30, 2019 at 9:37 am
Louisville temperature is 5 wind chill-18 smh.
feederband on January 30, 2019 at 10:10 am
Just keep the faith. 60’s this weekend.
Prelude on January 30, 2019 at 11:24 am
Temperature in Louisville 3 degrees windchill -21. Yes I’m keeping the faith lol.
KC on January 30, 2019 at 9:58 am
Thank you Chris for all you do and especially for presenting the weather stats concerning this cold weather. I agree with you whole-heartedly.
JimCVG on January 30, 2019 at 10:01 am
Just hit Zero degrees at CVG.
Sunny and breezy 16mph winds.
Prelude on January 30, 2019 at 11:25 am
I bet it feels great outside very refreshing.
Tom on January 30, 2019 at 11:48 am
This was issued by WIlmington Ohio (covers northern Ky) at 9:30 today about the historical significance of the event: Although we may miss the time period of the coldest air aloft from our morning balloon/sounding, we certainly will be in rare air from a cold perspective — with models showing minimum H8 temps of -30C by 18z over Wilmington, a feat that has only been accomplished several times per weather balloon climatology data dating back multiple decades. However, the arrival of the coldest air aloft will likely be around 18z, so it/s likely that either our 12z or 00z soundings will truly capture the near- record cold air aloft. However, one look at any of the forecast soundings shows how impressive/deep the stratospheric intrusion is/will be — with the tropopause (the separation between the troposphere and stratosphere) expected to fall to as low as 3kft- 4kft AGL this afternoon — which is almost unheard of for these latitudes. This is what truly speaks to the rarity of this pattern that has evolved, even if daily records are not met/exceeded.
Troy on January 30, 2019 at 12:21 pm
Upper 60’s gonna feel incredible next week. I’ve now completely written off any snowfall over a dusting so hoping the temps trend warmer over the next couple months,
Did Jefferson County in Louisville get a 1-3 inch snowfall? Sure looks that way to me judging by the traffic cameras. Looks like Louisville had there own separate overachiever snow compared to others.
Last thing what was the snow ratio for Louisville when the snow was falling it had to be ridiculous??
Prelude, it sure looks like it. We’re getting light snow in Richmond as the wind is blowing it and making it appear as white out conditions
Through midnight, Louisville had officially recorded 1.3″. But, additional accumulation took place after midnight. The melted amount was just 0.03″ through midnight. That is an astounding 43:1 ratio.
The numbers will be updated after noontime but would think Louisville came in between 1.5 and 2.0″. My place in Valley Station, I measured 1.3″ consistently, but that snow was blown all over the place
I have 2.25 of snow on my deck and I’m about three miles due west of the airport as the crow flies. My yard is covered. It really picked up about 10 last nigh.
I really do not understand this weather. I go to bed its 14 degrees an artic front is supposed to come through overnight I wake up and its 26 at 6 am
Snow, at least an inch in Morehead, KY. Temp is 17 at 6:30, no school in Rowan County today, obviously. (as of last nights phone call) But, I really didn’t expect the snow…
Currently 12 degrees with about an inch of snow on the ground here in the hills of central Kentucky.
I found the facts on weather control but Chris’s rejected to post it. It was a interesting article.
Facts about what Schroeder..You do know sometimes when you post if one word looks suspicious or not for the kids ears it goes in la la land..
Military using weather manipulation as a war weapon.
I think we equaled our biggest snow fall of the year here in south central haha, and it’s collllldddd
15 this morning. That’s cold but not unusually cold. Perhaps the PV decided to hangout in Chicago. But we did get about 1/2 inch of snow – perhaps the most snow so far this winter.
15 is not the “feels like” temp though, the wind chill is no joke
Sure, I get it. But 15 air temp and the related ‘feels like” is not than unusual. It’s cold – for sure but not unusually cold. Look back to Feb. 2015 for unusually cold.
Correct, I didn’t use the word unusual,just said it was cold….
The core Polar Vortex is currently moving into Greenland.
Thanks Chris. I have a favor to ask. Next time a winter weather advisory is issued leave Pulaski county out of it. We get more snow when we are not in one than we do when we are!!! But the extreme wind chills are a sure thing this morning! Whew! Wind chill cut you in half! Please stay in today unless you have to get out.
Kentucky home of the dusting snowfall.
Unless you’re in Louisville
The wind has really kicking in Louisville and another band of snow is moving through. My weimaraner loves the weather more than I do. I’m with Prelude, 80’s and low humidity.
Queen Elsa must be in a bad mood!
Looked at radar at 10pm and little band of snow looked to be moving through Louisville. Seven hours and five properties later I was still shoveling snow and throwing salt. Snow ratios had to be 25-30:1 easily. Stopped snowing completely at 315. I’d say 2-3 inches total for most of my stops. NAM showed 0.5 and Canadian 1.5….yesterday morning. I would say overachiever.
Definitely an overachiever. At ten last night, it was snowing and blowing around. Woke up with 2.25 at my place in LouMetro. School would’ve been called this morning due to the snow.
Yeah but my question is with the NAM and Canadian model showing anywhere between 0.5-1.5 was that at a 10:1 snow ratio? I saw a Twitter post where the snow ratio in Louisville was 40:1.
Prelude….That is a good point.
Def a dry and easy to push snow.
At 8:30 this morning Boone County Mesonet went below zero…first of several more to come over the next 24 hrs.
SNOW SQUALL WARNING Northern Kentucky:
https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=iln&wwa=snow%20squall%20warning
The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a
* Snow Squall Warning for…
Northwestern Mason County in northern Kentucky…
Robertson County in northern Kentucky…
Bracken County in northern Kentucky…
Pendleton County in northern Kentucky…
Southeastern Clermont County in southwestern Ohio…
Brown County in southwestern Ohio…
Northern Adams County in southwestern Ohio…
Western Pike County in southwestern Ohio…
Southern Highland County in southwestern Ohio…
Northwestern Scioto County in southwestern Ohio…
Southwestern Ross County in southwestern Ohio…
* Until 1000 AM EST.
* At 907 AM EST, a dangerous snow squall was located along a line
extending from near Hillsboro to Falmouth, moving southeast at 25
mph.
HAZARD…Brief whiteout conditions. Near zero visibility in snow
and blowing snow. Wind gusts up to 30 mph.
SOURCE…Radar,webcams, and public reports.
IMPACT…Dangerous life-threatening travel.
* Locations impacted include…
Maysville, Georgetown, Falmouth, Waverly, Mount Orab, West Union,
Piketon, Peebles, Ripley, Aberdeen, Augusta, Winchester, Marshall,
Sardinia, Seaman, Bainbridge, Felicity, Brooksville, Butler and
Highland Holiday.
Current temps is at 22 with a 21mph wind gust brings wind chill down to 3
The snow squall that just went through Jackson seems to have knocked their radar out…
Louisville temperature is 5 wind chill-18 smh.
Just keep the faith. 60’s this weekend.
Temperature in Louisville 3 degrees windchill -21. Yes I’m keeping the faith lol.
Thank you Chris for all you do and especially for presenting the weather stats concerning this cold weather. I agree with you whole-heartedly.
Just hit Zero degrees at CVG.
Sunny and breezy 16mph winds.
I bet it feels great outside very refreshing.
This was issued by WIlmington Ohio (covers northern Ky) at 9:30 today about the historical significance of the event: Although we may miss the time period of the coldest air aloft
from our morning balloon/sounding, we certainly will be in rare
air from a cold perspective — with models showing minimum H8
temps of -30C by 18z over Wilmington, a feat that has only been
accomplished several times per weather balloon climatology data
dating back multiple decades. However, the arrival of the
coldest air aloft will likely be around 18z, so it/s likely that
either our 12z or 00z soundings will truly capture the near-
record cold air aloft. However, one look at any of the forecast
soundings shows how impressive/deep the stratospheric intrusion
is/will be — with the tropopause (the separation between the
troposphere and stratosphere) expected to fall to as low as
3kft- 4kft AGL this afternoon — which is almost unheard of for
these latitudes. This is what truly speaks to the rarity of this
pattern that has evolved, even if daily records are not
met/exceeded.
Upper 60’s gonna feel incredible next week. I’ve now completely written off any snowfall over a dusting so hoping the temps trend warmer over the next couple months,