Good Wednesday everyone and thanks for stopping by the blog. It is the middle of the work week and this will be the best weather day for the next week… at least! Don’t get spoiled by it as old man winter continues to have a cold grip on us and will throw some snow chances our way in the coming days.
We are awaiting the arrival of a modified arctic front that will blow across the state later tonight. Southwesterly winds will be very gusty today and will pump temps toward 50 as clouds increase from west to east later in the day. A line of gusty showers will be moving in by late evening into the overnight. Cold air will be right on its tail and is likely to catch the back edge of it changing it to snow. Here is the precip type map from the GFS for early Thursday morning…
That snow line will be quickly working to the east into through the morning as temps chill into the low 30s. Here is what it looks like by noonish…
I am noticing the models are holding on to the moisture a little longer into the day meaning we have a better shot at seeing some snow on the back end. How long it lasts is in question… but it can certainly last long enough to put down some minor accumulations in a few spots. The timing on this is critical for the Thursday morning commute and is something we will be updating.
Temps Thursday afternoon will be in the low 30s with very windy weather!
Friday will be another cold one as temps struggle to get much above freezing after a start in the upper teens to low 20s. I am watching a weak system that looks to have just enough to work with to produce a few afternoon and evening flurries to start the weekend.
It is once we get into the weekend when we will focus on a strong clipper moving into the Ohio Valley from the northwest. This will quickly push into the state Saturday with clouds increasing with a good shot at snow developing by late afternoon. We are actually seeing good model agreement on this system.
European Model Saturday Morning
GFS Saturday Evening
GFS Precip Type Saturday Evening
A you can see… the GFS and European are both bringing in a swath of light snow from northwest to southeast by later Saturday. I mentioned in my earlier post that the European has been rock solid with this and the GFS is now on board. (Although it may flip flop some more
)
This yet another surge of arctic air that will be even colder than the Thursday-Friday cold. Once this front blows through… winds look pretty good right now to bring some moisture into the region from the Great Lakes into Sunday. Check out the flow…
European Model Sunday Morning
GFS Sunday Morning
As is… the models would be spitting out a widespread 1″-2″ snow from Saturday into Sunday. The north and east would fair the best out of that setup. Again… I am just telling you what the models are showing right now.
I actually like this setup a lot… but I have been around enough to know it can change in a hurry. This goes both ways though… we know it can find a way to miss us as we have seen many times before!
But this is also a setup that I have seen become an overachiever as well. That is especially true when lake moisture and very cold air get together to create a “fluff” factor!
Temps Sunday will stay in the high 20s to low 30s.
The pattern next week is going to be an active one and could get rather exciting! The models are all over the place for next week and that is usually a sign of some big goings on in the atmosphere.
I have seen nothing at all to change my mind about this December!! ![]()
I will be updating the Thursday and Weekend snow threats as needed so be sure to check back. Have a great Wednesday and take care.
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Thanks Chris….I still think Mother Nature is just teasing us! I think before this winter is done she’s gonna blow in with THE ” Big One”!
Oh I forgot! How ’bout those Hilltoppers!?!
Patty or anyone else……..did I miss the winter forcast? If I did I need to go back and LOOK it UP lol. 🙂 Hope everyone has a fantastic day! 😉
Nope haven’t missed it Chelle. Chris hasn’t blessed us with his winter weather forecast yet
Good Morning everyone! This is my favorite read in the morning while I’m enjoying my first cup of coffee. I will hopefully get all of my outdoor things done today before the colder stuff comes. Thanks for the information Chris.
BURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP,,AHHHHHHHHH
what a great day…
why u ask, well I woke up and that means its a AWESOME DAY.
today music is CCR.
I normally don’t do this, but….We have a graduation to go to in Harlan on Friday….we live in Lexington . Can anyone tell me their thoughts on if it will be too bad to go….maybe the thing to worry about would be getting back on Sat or Sun???
Thanks to anyone who can help.
MOrning to everyone! Thanks for the update, Chris. I relented on the long johns today, due to the warmth factor, but, I assure you, they are just waiting for me to put them back on in the morning!
Rolo, I agree with you. Any day that God gives you is an AWESOME one!
Hopeing to see a little of the white stuff before the week is out! Patty, I agree with you, too. I think that before the winter is over, we may just get “the big one!”
Have a great day, everyone! Looking forward to the next update, Chris!
DANG….!
You folks sure do graduate early in the hills…. er, on late..???
lol
It is a college graduation.
Thanks Chris…keep us posted on the snowy pattern.
Happy Belated Birthday Chasity. I was going to say that yesterday and got side tracked by the bloopers! LOL
thanks chris. looking foward to some lgt snow at the versailles christmas parade sat night. happy birthday chasity! everyone enjoy this warmer & dryer than norm day it may end up being the only one for a while.
there’s almost a 40* temp diffrence for days 7-12 from the 6z to the 12z gfs. wow! the gfs is having hard times.
sun dec 14 6z gfs highs around 55.
12z gfs highs around 15.
Bandwagon!!….I have finally heard someone talk about the upcoming cold spell. CB you are so far ahead of the class it isn’t funny.
Good afternoon everyone! It is looking more and more likely that the cold air WILL catch the back edge of the rain shield early Thursday. Some accumulating snows will be possible during this time.
The weekend clipper continues to look good with the first widespread snowfall of the year likely in store. I am growing more confident of this happening and am more bullish on accumulations! 🙂
“Interesting” pattern next week!!! I will have a specialy update for you coming late afternoon or early evening.
Take care
Thanks Chris. I’m starting to get excited, but am afraid to get the hopes up yet. Also, my son plays basketball so weather becomes particularly interesting for me, as far as travel, right now. Thanks again.
Thanx CB:
better make it before 7pm, ’cause our cats play tonight..!!
hey Chris, HOW ‘BOUT THEN STEELERS…!!!
Sorry man, just had to throw that in.. I know how much you loath them… lol
COWBOYS will take care of the steelers this week.
I’ll say it once…and probably again…given our current upper level pattern, ALL of the numerical models will continue to struggle. The solutions will not key in accurately until 36-48 hours prior to the event in question.
Rolo:
I wouldn’t bet your goat on that if I were you…! lol
i have to agree that all of the models are not doing well, this is a bad time to have to make 5-14 day forecasts, everything past this weekend is up in the air. hopefully that example will give some of you what forecasters like chris and mj have to sort through.
O.K. you got our attention…Snow Thursday, SNOW saturday..and ACCUMULATIONS…and both words are in the same sentence…LOL…BRING IT ON !!! OLE MAN WINTER…
I sure hope those widespread accumulations include southern ky. as well. because yesterday the sat. clipper event was gonna be a northern ky. event…so I am assuming its moving a bit further south now…HOPEFULLY…
Chris seems to be hyping this weekend system more than the previous systems. Hmmm.. I can’t say that I personally agree, but I sure do hope he is right! I’d love to see an “overacheiver” lay down a coat.
WXman:
Congrats on only big win last night..!
actually meant “another” not only…lol
sorry, I was NOT being sarcastic… really a nice win for WKU
man that wind has gotten colder in Knox county the last half hr or so
Starting to see the cloud banks roll in here in Fleming County.
Can someone tell me if the Red on the top map,means ice or snow?
I was reading TG’s blog and he does not seem too impressed with the snow for Thursday or for this weekend. Of course, I always trust Chris first. Any thoughts of what things look like now. Can’t wait for the next post.
Linda, I think the red means Sleet..you’ll note how the red usually shows up where the colder air coincides w/ the rain/changeover to colder air. If I am mistaken, feel free to correct me on this (anyone!);)
Thanks Debbie! I think you are right!
🙂 🙂 🙂
I agree to a certain extent as well. Clipper systems that give us accumulations almost always go south of KY…since the snow is on the northern side. Almost all the clippers that I’ve seen that go north of us…usually give very minor accumulations at best.
Try playing this game: Go to Accuweather and check Henry Margusity’s blog. That guy is on crack when winter comes along. Then check T.G. He’s pretty buttoned down, and is obviously not on the Kroger payroll. Then look at what CB says. Double check CB by looking at what Belski says on his blog on WAVE 3 (Louisville). CB and Belski are usually in the middle, usually where we will be, and usually are right. T.G pooh poohs things, Accucrack says its “The Day After Tomorrow,” and CB is usually right there.
I have actually read Margsity’s blog as well as others. I always take Chris’ word over them, but it is fun to compare. Also, this is the first year that I have had to travel for sports this time of year. Road conditions, with me and my boys in the car, are now an even greater concern.
I should clarify about the driving. My husband works nights, so I am the one behind the wheel. Not a great driver in slick conditions and the away games are sometimes over an hour away.
Can anyone tell me if the roads will be slick in the morning? I live in Madison county. I have a teenage daughter that will be driving to school. Thanks for the help.
I like to read Margusity’s blog and Bastardi’s blog. NO their not always right but who is?? Its kind of like those bags of minature assorted hershey candy bars. Mix’m altogether and you got FLAVOR!!!…lol..lol….oh well, I hope we get some tomorrow and this weekend. a little bit beats none at all. right? right…
feeder..yea, I agree w/ your opinion on this…HM always tends to go to extremes, then “back off” whenever things aren’t going towards his so-called ‘forecasts’?!- TG…umm?!- He just plain doesn’t like wintery forecasts-period. I’ve always watched Belski (I’m in Nelson Co.) and I’ll NEVER FORGET his Jan. 16, 94 forecast..he’d predicted a “major snowstorm” about a week or so out, but by the time that Sunday afternoon(15th) got here, I was on my way to the grocery when I saw “an inch or less for the Lousiville area” scroll across the screen above an NFL game…?!- Long story short- I didn’t buy a lot, woke up @ 3am (16th) to “spitty snow”, get up for work @ 5:30am, and they’re on the radio yakkin’ about all this snow that’s “shut down” Louisville, and I’m seeing “lightning & thunder”??, cussing because we’ve got a “T-Storm” and no snow…??!-Only to let my Dobermans out and see that the back porch is covered in snow, thunder, lightning, and I missed work for a whole WEEK!!:)Belski still SWEARS it “never happenned”..?!- But we all know that on weekends, they either have the “squatty” met’s or NWS doing their jobs for them…thus…the “innacurate” forecast??!;)
Wheres the update CB i’m trying to piece all these models together. And what about tonight 12z NAM shows snow Thursday AM 1-2 inches and now no models showing any snow but its gonna be a close call. I need an update!!!
Crystal, where are you girl? No comment today getting worry.
How ’bout them C.A.T.S.
Looks like the cold air has caught the rain… WOW… look at the radar folks… We may just see a little snow in the morning…
of course it depends on the car or truck you drive, but the best way to be prepared for the worst winter weather is to have a complete set of winter snow tires installed on your car! winter tires have come soooo far from where they were back even 20 years ago! from the tractor tire looking tread, to a more conventional looking all season tread. these new breed of snow tires are made from advanced rubber compounds that will have you wondering why in the world you didnt have every year for winter. i know we dont get that much snow here anymore, but you never know. there is always at least 3-5 times each winter we will have slick road conditions. they offer great grip on black ice too, with tread sipping and the advanced rubber. they are also affordable,great in the rain/slush as well. the firestone winter force is a great/affordable winter tire:) (btw i dont own a tire store;) but patsy at s and s tires in lexington will take care of you! her number is 859-233-3157:) hope this helps
Thanks, Chris, for keeping us in the loop! I’m still holding out for a snow day at some point in December! I don’t want too many, it will make for a rushed time to wind down the semester.
Vinny, you’re right. Estimating by the time the cold air pushes in, and if the precip continues to stay as strong as it has been building back to the southwest, it looks like some folks in northeastern parts of the state could see some very heavy snow coming down, starting within the next 6 to 8 hours. Snowfall will obviously start in the bluegrass before then, and we may have our own scattered heavier snow showers.
Accumulation at this point still looks minor, but the early AM commute is going to be very tricky.
I’m worried about her, too, Marsha. It isn’t like her not to post at least once in a day.
Rhonda i know i hope she lets us know soon that she’s ok
* Bitter cold on 00z GFS for for late next week* will it get support from the euro or stay on the 6z? if the 00z is right highs struggling to 10 and lows well below zero. I doubt it could get that cold this early, remember earlier i posted the diff in two runs was near 40.
i think the 13th system looks really promising as well.
i agree with mj and wxman on the clipper maybe 1-2 tops for far north ky and far se ky otherwise under an inch.
still a brief period of snow for the thu commute in spots.
Crystal…YOO-HOO!!!????:)
(I’m worried, too…not like her to notbe here?!)
Alright Crystal girl your blog family is going to put you in time out if you don’t get on here and let us know that you are ok.