Good Sunday, folks. High winds and a hard freeze are dominating the weekend weather picture across the bluegrass state. As if this isn’t wild enough, the pattern for the week ahead looks like something straight out of wintertime, and could deliver some snowflakes to our part of the world.
After 20s start the day, temps warm into the upper 40s to low 50s this afternoon under mostly cloudy skies. Winds won’t even come close to what we had on Saturday, but will still be gusty.
Those gusty winds increase on Monday as another strong cold front blows in from the northwest. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible as temps briefly spike into the 60s. As the front slams through here, temps drop like a rock and wind up in the 20s again by Tuesday morning.
A much stronger system with a bigger push of cold air arrives later Wednesday into Thursday. Winds could again top 45mph at times as this system works in. Showers and thunderstorms will be along and ahead of the cold…
An upper level system dives into the region late Thursday into Friday and could produce snow showers and flurries…
Highs on Thursday drop through the 40s and may not get out of the upper 30s by Friday. Wow! If skies can clear Friday night… LOOK OUT. Record shattering temps would be possible…
To put that in perspective, there have only be 3 times Lexington has ever hit the teens during the month of April. 1982 and twice in 1875.
We aren’t alone with this bitterly cold air for this time of year. Look at the temp departures across the eastern half of the country…
The damage to our plants and vegetation could be devastating.
The overall pattern over the next two weeks continues to look ugly, ugly, ugly. Check out this cool animation of the cold shots during this time…
Have a great Sunday and take care.
How were the ensuing spring and summer seasons after similar cold spells of the past?
I recall 2007 having a warm end to March and first part of April then suffered a brief cold shot with hard freezes. Then later during the summer, it was plain hot and fairly dry. Let’s just say my garden was not too productive that year. Hopefully, 2016 will not be like that but am concerned.
I remember that very well.
This is terrible.
Two significant weather events happened on today’s date of April 3.
On this date in 1987 was a late season snowstorm that affected many areas, including the Ohio Valley and even the Deep South.
http://www.weather.gov/images/jkl/PastEvents/198704_Snowfall_Regional.jpg
http://www.weather.gov/jkl/198704_snowstorm
As can be seen on the first link, parts of eastern KY, eastern TN and WV had a very heavy if relatively brief snow cover. I was only about three years old and have no real memory of this event even though I was in Morristown TN at the time. Anyway, even northern and central areas of Alabama received measurable snow; cities like Birmingham and Tuscaloosa had their latest measurable snows on record (even if they have trace snows on later dates).
The second event was one of the most spectacular tornado outbreaks ever which occurred on this date back in 1974. Kentucky and Tennessee were two of the hardest hit states, along with Ohio, Indiana, and even the rugged terrain of West Virginia. Unlike the 1987 snow, the after effects of 1974 were much more tragic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_Super_Outbreak
What were the peak wind gusts Saturday? The Port-o-Potties at Turfway Park blew along the apron in front of the grandstand.
Our house was whistling and howling very loudly!
We had a lot of clouds and a lot of wind overnight and it didn’t get as cold as expected here. My thermometer said 32 was the low. The wind did howl and was cold though. Made me think of winter because it sure had a bite to it! This morning it was calmer but that kept us from getting much frost, at least where I live. Not looking forward to this week, but, I see dogwoods are nearly in full bloom here so, might as well be ready for the cold weather. Gave a great Sunday afternoon everyone. Thanks Chris, for all you do.
It’s April, so yes be ready, but plant blooms and cold snaps are not correlated.
Frost and freezing conditions in April are normal for Central Kentucky. It was the unusual warmth in March that makes this seem bad.
Here is some data for Lexington:
Last Frost (36 degrees or less)
Average: April 27
Latest: May 27, 1961
Last Freeze (32 degrees or less)
Average: April 15
Latest: May 20, 1894
Last Hard Freeze (28 degrees or less)
Average: April 2
Latest: May 10, 1966
can we every get a warm spring anymore? seems no matter what kind of winter we endure it never warms up until sometime in may ugggg