Good Thursday Evening and Happy New Year! This has been a wild weather year across Kentucky and it is looking more and more like 2010 is going to start off on a rather wild note with arctic cold locking in and periodic snows. I want to say a big thanks to each of you for all you did for the blog this year. We topped 2 million hits during the year and that blows my mind! I am glad you guys like what I give you and the feeling is certainly mutual as each of you make this blog something special.

A couple of the standout moments from 2009 include…

 – The January Ice storm.

– The Destructive February 11th winds

– The Madison County May 8th Fatal Tornado

–  The severe flash flooding in southeastern Ky

– The record setting cold and wet summer.

– The Mid December Eastern Ky Snowstorm

So, what are the headlines for the first days of 2010? Ask and ye shall receive..

1. Winter Weather Advisory out for northern Kentucky tonight and early Friday Morning. Temps drop rapidly from northwest to southeast with rain showers to snow showers that can cause slick travel late tonight. Temps will be in the upper 20s by morning leading to a freeze up of moisture on area roads.

2. New Year’s Day will feature temps falling into the low 20s by afternoon. Winds will be gusty making it feel even colder. Snow showers and flurries will be possible… especially north and east.

3. Our flow Friday night into Saturday turns northwesterly with a nice fetch coming off Lake Michigan. This will bring a good shot at accumulating snows to central and eastern Ky. Areas in the east can easily pick up an inch or two during this time. Winds will blow the snow around, too.

4. Arctic air takes hold this weekend. Temps by day will run in the upper teens and low 20s with lows by Sunday in the single digits. Periodic snow showers and squalls will be with us with eastern Ky being the big winner.

5. The northwesterly flow will continue into the middle of next week. All tolled… parts of eastern and southeastern Kentucky can pickup several inches of powdery snow with a few inches possible back into central Kentucky. It won’t snow all the time… but it will come in bursts that will add up over the next 4 or 5 days.

6. Temps remain VERY cold through next week with low and mid 20s being as good as any day could possibly get. This will ensure that any snow that falls will not be going anywhere!

7. Signs are pointing to an arctic outbreak induced storm trying to form by the end of next week across the southern and eastern US. Bitter air would then follow whatever storm or system that forms.

This is one heck of a start to the new year, folks. Our winter forecast looks to be in excellent shape right now so I am cool with it all. lol 

I will have an update late tonight or early on the first day of 2010. Stay safe and Happy New Year!

Take care.