Good afternoon, everyone. This is going to be a short post just to get you guys set up with all the tracking tools you need to follow the active day of weather. High winds and strong to severe storms are rolling across the state on this New Year’s Eve.
A squall line of thunderstorms will race eastward across the state this afternoon into early this evening. That line should weaken very quickly as it gets into eastern Kentucky after dark.
Damaging wind is the primary threat, but a tornado or two is possible across areas of south central Kentucky, especially.
Winds are going to crank with or without storms. Gusts of 50mph will be possible as our low pressure develops and rolls across the Ohio Valley. With a wet ground and soggy root system, watch for the possibility of a few trees being uprooted.
The late week storm system is going to move right on top of us, bringing heavy rain and the potential for some snow Thursday and Friday. I will get into that with my next update. Until then, let’s track today’s action…
Here’s the current Severe Weather Outlook from the Storm Prediction Center…
Current watches
Possible watch areas
Happy New Year and take care.
33 Comments
Terry on December 31, 2018 at 12:36 pm
Impressive line at the moment! I bet winds top 60 in places with the line west of I-75 before it weakens.
The Tornado Watch is a rather low-end boundary not including any part of Kentucky yet. Still, it will be interesting to track Mesonet wind gusts as this squall moves in later.
TennMark on December 31, 2018 at 1:27 pm
Still, a Tornado Warning was issued earlier just east of Paducah KY with radar indicated rotation. Even for Tennessee, the tornado threat is not sky high (neither is it zero obviously) and the SPC feels that the overall severe threat will weaken somewhat as it moves east this evening.
Thanks to all first responders, hospital workers and others including of course meteorologists 😉 that work during holidays while many of the rest of us are with our families. Makes me think twice about wanting to complain when I’m back at work the day after Christmas or after New Years Day!
I’m busy scanning for spotters and law enforcement, but no reports coming in yet of any damage in tornado warned area. However, there was a 53 mph gust in adjacent Crittenden county near Marion courtesy of Mesonet site.
TennMark on December 31, 2018 at 2:38 pm
Thankfully, no tornado debris signature (TDS) on radar.
Chris Bailey just tweeted that an 85 mph gust was clocked in Christian County KY!
Terry on December 31, 2018 at 2:41 pm
It is about to slam you within a hour. Hopefully, you want see wind damage!
TennMark on December 31, 2018 at 5:07 pm
Things are good here! It was already very gusty, not much wind difference during the p-a-s-s-i-n-g of the line/heavy rain, heard no thunder.
This time, less than a thousand customers in Nashville are without power which is relatively minor, although most of the outages are concentrated near Joelton north of Nashville, perhaps Joelton had the strongest winds?
Jimbo on December 31, 2018 at 1:51 pm
I know people say Winter just started. But meteorological Winter is a third of the way over. And we have nothing to show for it. And nothing in the foreseeable future. Locals in the tri-state have highs of 48 and up for the next. I think we can start playing taps for Winter 2018/19 before long.
Terry on December 31, 2018 at 1:57 pm
70s showing up in SE KY on the mesonet.
Hang in there Jimbo, this subtropical weather can’t last forever. We just need some blocking to override this overactive subjet!
One thing not changing going into 2019 is rain…big threat for SE KY this week.
Jeff Hamlin on December 31, 2018 at 2:05 pm
Rubbish
Jim B on December 31, 2018 at 4:02 pm
Agreed
Allen on December 31, 2018 at 4:21 pm
CB’s winter forecast called for below normal temps and 3-6 inches of snow in December. Lucy pulled the football again, Charlie Brown.
Farmer 43 on December 31, 2018 at 4:44 pm
Jimbo I agree people keep saying winter just started but I think the consistent cold temperatures came early in the season October and November pretty disappointing I just read the Louisville forecast discussion from national weather Service quote unquote no arctic air in sight it tickles me how people give all these predictions for weather when their wrong they say nothing but when they’re right they let everyone know about it I’ve looked at several different winter forecast and they all have been way wrong think we need to stick to a 48 hr forecast in my book long range forecasting is garbage you don’t know how many times as a farmer I’ve looked at the weather longer range and trust what they tell me only to cost me a bunch of extra work and money because I believed them
Bjenks on January 1, 2019 at 1:18 am
Last half of Met winter will be cold and snowy!!! Mark my word!!
Microburst of up to 80 mph confirmed near Paducah earlier today by NWS. Straight line winds up to 75 mph in Graves county near Symsonia.
Terry on December 31, 2018 at 10:37 pm
The Mesonet site has a released a statement that total precipitation and other maximum data has been fixed!
Troy on December 31, 2018 at 10:13 pm
Gonna be fun tracking these rain storms the next three months (Lord knows there won’t legitimately be anything else to track unless you include the perpetual phantom 2 week out snow thumping). Happy New Year!
Terry on December 31, 2018 at 11:30 pm
IT’S OVER!!!!
I TOPPED 70.00 IN AT 11:27:)
STILL POURING WITH 1.44 ON THE DAY.
NOW THAT WAS CUTTING IT CLOSE REACHING 70.00 MARK WITHIN THE LAST HOUR OF THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR… WOW
Jimbo on January 1, 2019 at 12:26 am
Now you can start working on 71 inches this year. The rain train rolls into 2019, showing no signs of slowing/stopping.
Lucy on January 1, 2019 at 1:49 am
Will snow before long. Give it time. Happy New Year
TennMark on January 1, 2019 at 2:13 am
In the final hours of the year, 2018 became the wettest year on record for Crossville TN (74.88 inches).
Impressive line at the moment! I bet winds top 60 in places with the line west of I-75 before it weakens.
The Tornado Watch is a rather low-end boundary not including any part of Kentucky yet. Still, it will be interesting to track Mesonet wind gusts as this squall moves in later.
Still, a Tornado Warning was issued earlier just east of Paducah KY with radar indicated rotation. Even for Tennessee, the tornado threat is not sky high (neither is it zero obviously) and the SPC feels that the overall severe threat will weaken somewhat as it moves east this evening.
Thanks to all first responders, hospital workers and others including of course meteorologists 😉 that work during holidays while many of the rest of us are with our families. Makes me think twice about wanting to complain when I’m back at work the day after Christmas or after New Years Day!
I’m busy scanning for spotters and law enforcement, but no reports coming in yet of any damage in tornado warned area. However, there was a 53 mph gust in adjacent Crittenden county near Marion courtesy of Mesonet site.
Thankfully, no tornado debris signature (TDS) on radar.
Chris Bailey just tweeted that an 85 mph gust was clocked in Christian County KY!
It is about to slam you within a hour. Hopefully, you want see wind damage!
Things are good here! It was already very gusty, not much wind difference during the p-a-s-s-i-n-g of the line/heavy rain, heard no thunder.
This time, less than a thousand customers in Nashville are without power which is relatively minor, although most of the outages are concentrated near Joelton north of Nashville, perhaps Joelton had the strongest winds?
I know people say Winter just started. But meteorological Winter is a third of the way over. And we have nothing to show for it. And nothing in the foreseeable future. Locals in the tri-state have highs of 48 and up for the next. I think we can start playing taps for Winter 2018/19 before long.
70s showing up in SE KY on the mesonet.
Hang in there Jimbo, this subtropical weather can’t last forever. We just need some blocking to override this overactive subjet!
One thing not changing going into 2019 is rain…big threat for SE KY this week.
Rubbish
Agreed
CB’s winter forecast called for below normal temps and 3-6 inches of snow in December.
Lucy pulled the football again, Charlie Brown.
Jimbo I agree people keep saying winter just started but I think the consistent cold temperatures came early in the season October and November pretty disappointing I just read the Louisville forecast discussion from national weather Service quote unquote no arctic air in sight it tickles me how people give all these predictions for weather when their wrong they say nothing but when they’re right they let everyone know about it I’ve looked at several different winter forecast and they all have been way wrong think we need to stick to a 48 hr forecast in my book long range forecasting is garbage you don’t know how many times as a farmer I’ve looked at the weather longer range and trust what they tell me only to cost me a bunch of extra work and money because I believed them
Last half of Met winter will be cold and snowy!!! Mark my word!!
Your right Jimbo it’s just not staying cold for it to snow….you’re right.
Agreed
73 for a high here in Carrie of knott co today
Winds here along the squall line a non-event, maybe 25-30 mph. I’ve had winds stronger than that before and now after the squall itself.
I need .63 this evening to reach 70.00 in year-to-date….common, cheer me on! LOL
All the hot takes on here about winter weather make me laugh.
You make us laugh as well Jeff. It’s what makes the world go around 😀 Have a good New Year.
I’m sure I do, but at least I don’t complain about weather in thinly veiled swipes at CB. Happy 2019! 😉
Hamlin, you’re so serious… lighten up in 2019… it’s a weather blog man haha
Happy new year!
I hope I am wrong about my Winter thoughts. But I have saw this song and dance too many times before.
Regardless what the weather is gonna rest of the winter. Happy New Years everybody!!
Microburst of up to 80 mph confirmed near Paducah earlier today by NWS. Straight line winds up to 75 mph in Graves county near Symsonia.
The Mesonet site has a released a statement that total precipitation and other maximum data has been fixed!
Gonna be fun tracking these rain storms the next three months (Lord knows there won’t legitimately be anything else to track unless you include the perpetual phantom 2 week out snow thumping). Happy New Year!
IT’S OVER!!!!
I TOPPED 70.00 IN AT 11:27:)
STILL POURING WITH 1.44 ON THE DAY.
NOW THAT WAS CUTTING IT CLOSE REACHING 70.00 MARK WITHIN THE LAST HOUR OF THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR… WOW
Now you can start working on 71 inches this year. The rain train rolls into 2019, showing no signs of slowing/stopping.
Will snow before long. Give it time. Happy New Year
In the final hours of the year, 2018 became the wettest year on record for Crossville TN (74.88 inches).