Hello everyone. As we get set for a new work week I thought I would go ahead and do a little blast from the past before we take a look at the week ahead-lines.
I had made my mind up about what I wanted to show you guys this go around. But… I had not planned on such an difficult time trying to find some visuals for this one. The Great Appalachian Snowstorm of 1950 is considered by many to be one of the most intense storms to ever strike the US. Before I go into specifics… check out the pic below…
I have only one question about that pic. Why in the world is that kid so worried about feeding the meter for? I guess the parking ticket police are tough in his hometown! ![]()
The great appy snowstorm hit during Thanksgiving weekend of 1950. Here is an animation showing how the storm came together.
That is an AMAZING chart! This storm produced 1-2 feet of snow across central and eastern Kentucky. Lexington officially recorded 10″. Winds whipped to 40mph+ across the region as temps plummetted. Record lows of -5 to -10 pushed into the area as highs only managed to reach the low and mid teens for a few days. While Kentucky got hammered by this storm… it was much worse just to our north and east where more than 3 feet of snow fell ins some areas. Pickens, West Virginia recorded 57″ of snow from this monster. Winds were gusting in excess of 50mph in many areas.
On the front side of this storm… winds near New York City hit over 100mph!!! Overall… at least 160 people died during the Great Appalachian Snowstorm of 1950.
Back in Kentucky I found a couple of interesting tidbits from November 1950. A tornado hit near Georgetown just days before this storm moved in. Much of first 3 weeks of that month were well above normal. Temps were flirting with 80 on November 1st.
This big snowstorm was the start of a harsh winter across Kentucky. It went on to produce a total of 42″ of snow in Lexington and sent temps to -16 in early February.
I wanted to get this storm out there because many of you probably had never hear of it.. but it was a doozy!
Now… a quick look ahead.
1. There is just an isolated storm chance over the next few days with the bext chance coming across central and western parts of the state.
2. Highs can reach 90 or a little beyond with enough sun through Tuesday.
3. A cold front will move toward the state Wednesday with a good shot at showers and thunderstorms. A few may stick around into Thursday.
4. Temps will spike back up for a day or so before our next front digs in for the weekend.
5. This front will likely bring some decent rains and some much cooler air to much of the region as we go into the first few days of August.
I will have another update coming later Monday night so make sure you check back. Also… let me know what you think of the “blasts” segments.
Take care.
Select Page
Chris I would love to see like that again and we love all the stuff you show us that why your blog is the best.
Chris I would love to see snow like that again and we love all the stuff you show us that why your blog is the best.
Another interesting thing about that picture was that air-conditioning was highly advertised in the establishment behind him. Was he putting money in the meter so that he could be in air-conditioning? lol. Well, I have to admit I was not around then. I came along 3 years later. How interesting though!!
I would love to see a storm like that without the fatalities of course. -10 degrees, almost 6 feet of snow, 100mph winds now that’s beyond impressive. I think it compares quite nicely to the superstorm of 93. Surprised I never heard of it. I really enjoy these blast from the pasts as i expect everyone does.
Chris…….Thanks for the blast! I love all the history of Ky weather. Like Sharon I wasn’t around either. Sharon…….I see we’re the same age! In fact I have another B-day coming next month! They sure don’t have the same meaning as they use to. LOL!
Thanks Chris…enjoy the “blast from the past” segments…the 1950 storm came at a time before the NWS offices/stations in Jackson and London opened. It would be interesting to see which part of Kentucky had the most snow.
Thanks Chris for the past blast. 1950 was a REAL snowstorm. As I said earlier, my husband was born in Morgan county just before it hit. His Grandpa was a mule driver and became ill, never made it because no medical help could get to him. Not long after that, all the family moved to Florida! But everybody eventually came back, and here we are now to. I wouldn’t live anyplace else. thanks again for memeory lane!
Sure am glad “KYWEATHERCENTER.COM” is running much better than the your blog at WSAZ. I’m sure they must review all entries starting with yours, but it is sloooooooowwwww.
WOW! What a storm! chris, I really enjoy your blasts from the past. It is very interesting to me to see weather, and some memorable history about storms of the past! Keep ’em coming!
We could use alittle rain, here, too. So I am ot going to complain about getting some, even on the weekend. I WILL ask you for nice weather for the weekend of August 9 though. IT is fan day at UK, and we are planning on going to Commonwealth for it. Don’t want rain that day, but a little cooler than last year would be nice! 😉
Sharon and Patty,
I wasn’t here either. That was 4 years before I arrived! Still, I love to see the weather history of KY, as William said.
I LOVE THOSE “BLASTS FROM THE PAST” they are very interesting. An interesting note about that snowstorm, correct me if I’m wrong Chris. But did’nt it get cut off from the Jet stream and went up the app. mnts. then curved back into the Ohio valley and then back up again. most places got not one round but two rounds of the storm. I don’t think any other snowstorm has ever moved the way that one did in the Appalachian Mnts. It did a complete loopty-loop…lol..(if that makes any sense at all)….that’s laymen country terms…(very scientific)…LOL.
HEADS UP !!! Frankfort, Lexington, and surrounding areas as of 10:25 a.m. a thunderstorm complex was moving from the Louisville area if it holds together, gardens,and lawns in the areas to the east may get a good drink in the next couple of hours or so.
Hazardous weather outlook
National weather service
Louisville,ky.
DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL LIKELY REACH NEAR 105 IN SOUTH CENTRAL
KENTUCKY TUESDAY AND NEAR 100 OVER NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTH
CENTRAL INDIANA. THE HOTTEST…MOST HUMID VALUES WILL RESIDE OVER
THAT PART OF SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY ALONG AND WEST OF I-65.
…………………………..
YUCK ! I’ll be tappin meters with the boy in the pic. call me when the heats over…..LOL…LOL…………. 🙂
***** SEVERE WEATHER SOUTH OF THE KY.BORDER******
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MORRISTOWN HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
NORTHERN MORGAN COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE…
SOUTHERN SCOTT COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE…
* UNTIL 215 PM EDT
* AT 104 PM EDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL…AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
SUNBRIGHT…OR 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF WARTBURG…AND MOVING EAST AT
6 MPH.
* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR…
SUNBRIGHT BY 120 PM EDT…
ELGIN BY 205 PM EDT…
SLICK ROCK BY 215 PM EDT…
IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS…CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS
IMMEDIATELY! LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES PRIMARY KILLERS. REMEMBER…
IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER…YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING.
showers and thunderstorms continue to roll across central and eastern ky. areas affected are from Lexington south to casey and Pulaski counties. These storms are moving east. south of this area scattered showers/storms are trying to develope and merge with the storms in northern Tn. which have prompted the warnings in that area. As hot as it is here, I know everyone is welcoming the cooling rain.
Tim
sunny/hot/humid.
94 miserable degrees
Thanks Chris I love these blasts from the past KEEP THEM UP!!!!!! The map is a beautiful thing to watch amazing!!!!
Okay Chris or anyone please explain why we can no longer get storms like this???
Looks like rain is moving in i hope we get some in eastern Ky!!!! Also Chris I just now got access to your weekend wsaz forecast what gives with that???
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
NORTHERN JACKSON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
SOUTHERN LEE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
OWSLEY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
* UNTIL 215 PM EDT
Tim do you think us in south east ky will get in on the action?? I hope so 91 degrees and partly cloudy here.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
LAUREL COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY…
PULASKI COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY…
SOUTHERN ROCKCASTLE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY…
NORTHWESTERN CLAY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
SOUTHERN JACKSON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
* UNTIL 230 PM EDT
William send me the storms to Pikeville!!!!
URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR…
ESTILL COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY…
LAUREL COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY…
NORTHERN PULASKI COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY…
ROCKCASTLE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY…
NORTHWESTERN CLAY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
JACKSON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
LEE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
WESTERN OWSLEY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
UNTIL 400 PM EDT
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
NORTHWESTERN BREATHITT COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
LEE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
NORTH CENTRAL OWSLEY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
SOUTHWESTERN WOLFE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
* UNTIL 245 PM EDT
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
SOUTHERN LAUREL COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY…
EAST CENTRAL MCCREARY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY…
WHITLEY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY…
SOUTHERN CLAY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
KNOX COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
WEST CENTRAL LESLIE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
* UNTIL 330 PM EDT
FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR…
SOUTHEASTERN LAUREL COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY…
NORTH CENTRAL WHITLEY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY…
SOUTHWESTERN CLAY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
KNOX COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
* UNTIL 515 PM EDT
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
NORTHERN BELL COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
SOUTHEASTERN CLAY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
WESTERN HARLAN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
EASTERN KNOX COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
SOUTHERN LESLIE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY…
* UNTIL 400 PM EDT
Chris, you were correct, had never heard of that storm, but I LOVE the blast from the past stories that you are doing!!!!! Keep it up man, you are the “Weather Guru”!!!!!
NOTHING LIKE GETTING CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BIG STORM !!!..
I was in corbin when the storms hit, and man did they hit.. Sitting in the drive-thru at Mcdonalds when the sirens in corbin start going off..well the last thing this weather geek wanted to do was eat!!! my kids could’nt believe how hard it was raining,then the wind started shaking my truck..WHAT A STORM, then as started home. I witnessed wind damage to trees in several places, water over the road in several places and actually close to be in some folks homes in the Woodbine, and at the beginning of 1809 around popular creek.. I took several pics on my cell phone. here at home creeks are running out of their banks and if you live on a hill and have a gravel drive,well your gravel is at the foot of the hill in the road like mine.
………
I think William has done a good job keeping up with and posting the warnings as they come out…well I’m loosing satelitte signal again…another round of storms trying to fire back up to my west and moving east over Whitley co.again…
Yea! It rained at my house! Not rained across town, not down the road, not just at my work, but at MY house!! My tomatos loved it. I only wish I was independently wealthy and could have stayed home to watch it come down at the window. I love to watch the rain.
Coffeelady…….It looks like we’re all around the same age.
Tim seems like you had a rough go with the kids.It rained a good steady soaking rain in Pikeville and its much cooler.
William did a great job on the warnings!!!!
Maybe i will hire William because nobody had any chance for weather this morning at 6 even the almighty NWS whom everybody loves. From what i have seen coming from Town, Tim it looks to be the worst storm as far as rain and lightening that we have seen in some time
Tim, we were on our way home from Laurel Lake when we got caught in that storm. It sure was a rough one! The wind and rain were so bad, we ended up pulling into a parking lot to ride the rest of it out. I have amazing video on my cell phone of trees bending with the wind.
Hi All. I’m happy, 🙂 we got 1/2″ of rain at our place this morning. Chris I love the weather history stories, keep ’em coming.
1. There is just an isolated storm chance over the next few days with the bext chance coming across central and western parts of the state.
Could have sworn I saw the entire eastern third of the state covered in rain and storms (even some severe) today. Maybe Chris was talking about West Virginia?