Good afternoon, everyone. It’s a frigid day out there, with a much colder pattern taking shape as we close out 2017 and begin 2018. It’s a pattern that will also throw some snows our way, starting with the weekend system.
Before we get to that, let’s give it up for the cold out there this morning. Lows were flirting with zero across the north, with lots of single digits showing up on the mesonet sites…
Wind chills were solidly below zero in many areas. Once again, this was a case of the lows being much colder than the computer models suggested.
A few areas of light snow and flurries continue across the southeast today, putting down light coatings in some areas.
Temps tonight hit the single digits again for many areas, with below zero wind chills showing up.
A streak or two of light snow and flurries will be possible later Thursday into Friday, with the main system showing up on Saturday. This will be a nice little system working in from the northwest…
Look for that to increase as we get closer. The snow ratios with that will likely be greater than 20-1, so it won’t take much moisture at all to put down a snowfall. Winds will also be very gusty and could reach 35mph as bitterly cold air crashes in.
The GFS is still trying to figure things out. It’s starting to show the Saturday system better, but it’s still a process…
The model still tries to pop that southern system close enough to bring snow in here on New Year’s Eve…
The bitter cold continues to look strong, strong, strong. Temps have a good chance to go below zero later this weekend into early next week. The Canadian continues to be on the extreme side…
Speaking of the Canadian, it is still trying to focus on a mid-week snow system coming out of the Gulf…
I will have the latest on WKYT-TV starting at 4pm and will have another update this evening. Make it a good one and take care.
The midweek possibility for next week has my interest. I am going on a backpacking trip the the highlands of West Virginia (between Snowshoe and Richwood) in 10 days and am looking for a winter wonderland adventure.
Any arm chair mets want to make a prediction for me?
There is always a 7 day away storm and they rarely materialize.
Chances are real good you will have some snow on the ground, not sure how much though. Especially with the cold holding on. If the weekend produces another one of these lame Clippers. Then you would probably have 2 or 3 inches. I haven’t seen a decent system come my way from the northwest in about 3 years, at least.
My wintertime experience in that neck of the woods suggests that you need to prepare properly for the trek! I’ve made well over two dozen snowboard journeys in the last decade to those slopes and only gotten skunked for snow once! Depending on your elevation and what slope you are on can mean the difference between getting absolutely dumped on and a snow shower! A few of those high valleys and spines can average between 150 & 180″ of natural snow per calendar year! Stay tuned-in to weather reports as you get a few days out… if you see a northwest flow setting up, be prepared!
Great! Thanks for the reply. We are going to the Cranberry Wilderness area. Hopefully off the Highland Scenic Highway… Any experience there?
I lived at Snowshoe during the 90’s. I imagine the Scenic Hwy is closed for the winter but it’s hit or miss. Whenever there is a decent snowpack they close it for cross country skiing and snowmobile traffic. I know that Snowshoe has about a half foot of snow a few days ago.
Count on temps at least 20 degrees colder than Charleston so be prepared for sub zero nights and possibly days. On the plus side you probably won’t have to hang your food at night since the bears are probably hibernating.
As previous poster said, that area of Pocahontas County average up to 200 inches of snow per winter. One year at the Shoe we had over 420 inches.
Have fun, winter camping is great.
Cool! Great sharing!
I love outdoor adventures – the more “Survivorman-like” the better. Trying to balance that with the guys I am going with is a bit of a challenge. I have to push them, just hard enough to have a challenge but not so hard they will never go again.
I am in touch with some locals and will call the forest service to get the latest details as next weekend looms…
Favorable variables for snow:
+ Not in Kentucky 😉
+ North east of Kentucky (they usually get some snow)
+ In the mountains.
If those variables do not at least provide some good shot of white stuff- what would? 🙂
LOL you guys are hilarious. Yes, that area of West Virginia gets a lot of snow but I don’t know about this year or future years. You might want to watch that art house movie ‘ Wrong Turn Five ‘ before you go. You might change your mind about the trip. LOL have a safe and enjoy your winter outing.
Great! I am pumped about the trip! Just NO COLD RAIN!
Well, well, what do we have here. The euro trends towards the GFS, much flatter, and chance for the southern wave to become meaningful. Never thought I’d see the day when the Euro caves to the GFS in the four day period.
You might be right snow staying North Kentucky at least my uncle got snow he lives in Erie Pennsylvania and got 5 feet of snow in 2 days.
That’s what I’d like!
I less you got to shovel it.
Not buying any model until three days out. Then I will look at the NAM. It is the most accurate…IMO…20-1 snow ratios sound good, light and fluffy. -20 in Cincy does not sound good.
Oh come on BJ, you know you want to kick 🙂
He’s a closet kicker 😉
I soon have 60 degrees than this extended period of cold and flurries ever now and then. As usual we get to watch most country the get nailed while we sit and watch.
Even the far south is way ahead of KY snow wise ):
I’m worried about freezing and bursting pipes. Without snow cover, there’s an increased risk of that happening. At least if we can get a couple of inches on the ground we can a little thermal insulation, which hopefully will help alleviate the strain on the water pipes.
Air temps are going to plummet anyway. We might as well have a little snow cover—and the fluffy stuff is not near as dangerous to drive on.
GFS, Canadian, Euro…one or more of these see a storm a week away for KY…you can comfortably place high stakes bets that it will not happen.
Lucy would not like your logic. Kick hard!
I less you got to shovel it.
That’s the big upside. No shovelling 🙂