Good afternoon, folks. Heavy rain continues to blanket the bluegrass state and this is causing the potential for local flooding issues into the early evening. From there, it’s game on for a rapid drop in temperatures and a switch to snow, Travel later tonight into Sunday morning is going to be tough with the flash freeze and some snow on top of it.
Let’s get a check on the current Winter Weather Alerts…
You may see a few more counties added to that Winter Storm Warning before all is said and done.
My thoughts on how this storm haven’t really changed much…
Cold air quickly crashes into western and northern parts of the state during the late afternoon, changing rain to snow.
A steady band of moderate to heavy snow works from west to east across the state into early Sunday. That band of snow gets lighter across eastern Kentucky.
A swath of significant snow is likely to fall across parts of western and central Kentucky. That’s oriented from southwest to northeast.
Wind gusts of 35-45mph will be likely and that may create near blizzard conditions for a few hours this evening into the wee hours of Sunday for some areas.
With temps dropping through the 20s and into the teens, a flash freeze is likely. Throw snow on top of that and travel conditions go downhill quickly. I would not be surprised if a few roads are briefly closed.
Snow showers taper to flurries on Sunday as temps struggle to get out of the teens. Wind chills will be single digits to near zero at times.
A quick hitting flake maker may zip into western Kentucky Sunday evening.
I’ve made some minor adjustments to the snowfall map, pulling down the 3″-8″ line a little farther south than earlier…
The lines aren’t going to work out perfectly, because the weather doesn’t really work along lines. Even within the 3″-8″ areas, there will be some streaks of underachieving and a streak or two that may overachieve.
The new European Model is actually a little farther east with the heaviest snows. It has double digit across parts of the bluegrass and northeast…
The NAM has a similar corridor of double digit snow amounts, but is a little farther west…
The Canadian has it between Louisville and Cincy…
EXACTLY where this band of heaviest snow sets up may be a game time decision. That means a lot of nowcasting this evening and tonight, but that’s actually fun to do in such a dynamic event.
I mentioned those winds that may create near blizzard conditions for a few hours. Check out the gusts around 1am Sunday…
If such a wild and dynamic storm like this one doesn’t get you excited, you need to turn in your weather lover card. 🙂
I would love to talk about what I’m seeing this coming week and beyond, but I’m gonna stick to the current winter storm script.
Additional updates come your way later today, so check back. Until then, here are some trackers to get you started…
Hamburg Area from WKYT Studio Lexington
I-75 @ Newtown Pike Lexington
I-75 MP 127 Georgetown
I-64 at KY-801 Near Morehead
I-64 MP 97 Winchester
Mountain Parkway @ MP 36 Near Pine Ridge
Florence
Covington
Louisville
E-town
I-65 MP 36 Near Bowling Green
I-65 @ 234 Near Bowling Green
Natcher Parkway MP 5 Near Bowling Green
US 41A Gate 5 Fort Campbell Entrance Fort Campbell
I-24 MP 4 @ US 60 Paducah
I-24 MP 7 @ US 62 Paducah
Have a good one and take care.
30 Comments
BubbaG on January 19, 2019 at 2:11 pm
Thanks CB! Go Cats!
Jude on January 19, 2019 at 2:23 pm
Looks like Frankfort might see a decent snow.
Terry on January 19, 2019 at 2:24 pm
Chris does a great job! I hope you all up north and west of SE KY enjoy the snow. I will probably not post again until Monday as I can’t bare to watch the Twitter feed blow up with pics from the same areas getting snow… sigh.
Again, I root for Jimbo as he has a slightly better shot of real accumulation than I do down here do to track of upper low. You all enjoy and see ya next week!
Jimbo on January 19, 2019 at 3:20 pm
I wont get more than a dusting if that. Most likely flurries blowing around with no sticking. The wedge will keep temps up till most of the moisture is gone. Then I will get ready for the next rain event Wednesday when temperatures hit 50 again.
BubbaG on January 19, 2019 at 2:31 pm
CB, might want to talk to your IT folks, cause if the blog is choking for a storm not even direct hitting your main demographic, this blog will have a big mushroom cloud when one does.
Go Cats!!
Coffeelady on January 19, 2019 at 2:36 pm
Thanks Chris. Looks like now casting will be the guide. But if you have any pull at all, please tell Mother anaturexti show some snow love to those of us in south central and south eastern Ky, ok?
SkiWi on January 19, 2019 at 2:53 pm
Huntington WV, always the bridesmaid never the bride. Happy Mud Season
Dave on January 19, 2019 at 3:09 pm
Does it look like moisture going bye bye out west , or am I the only one?
SyormTrackerWV on January 19, 2019 at 3:15 pm
I see it too Dave, on the radar–looks like there’s a dry slot, snd then not much behind that.
James on January 19, 2019 at 3:17 pm
Looks like our friend the dry slot making an appearance.
Josh on January 19, 2019 at 3:52 pm
Not sure what your looking at but it’s already over achieving out west
Bryan on January 19, 2019 at 3:12 pm
Looking forward to our midweek rain and mud.
Guess winter starts after the next storm,
Andy Rose on January 19, 2019 at 3:25 pm
It’s getting a bit old Bryan. Chill
Jimbo on January 19, 2019 at 3:52 pm
Yes, after the next mid-week warmup and rain.
BubbaG on January 19, 2019 at 3:23 pm
CB, might want to get your IT folks working on your site. This is not even a big hit for most of your viewing demographic, but the site is choked. It will probably be toast if more a direct hit on KY.
Coreyfromtheky on January 19, 2019 at 3:37 pm
Jeez half of yall are so annoying and negative on here…give it a rest
Thank you for saying it, I was about to lose it from the whining and negativity! Everybody is an expert on here!!!!
Jackson on January 19, 2019 at 5:14 pm
Hopefully it will snow in the whiners area so we can get a day or two break from all the whining lol.
Bus Haynes on January 19, 2019 at 3:40 pm
Chris up the chances to 3 to 8 inches where I live in Southern Ohio. It’s all about the placement of the low presser and how fast the cold air gets drawn in.
Drew on January 19, 2019 at 3:47 pm
Fingers crossed for at least a couple inches in the Ashland area this weekend. Hope all that are wishing for some snow get to see it this weekend.
feederband on January 19, 2019 at 3:48 pm
Terry, I see flood warnings out for Southeast KY finally. Be careful.
Terry on January 19, 2019 at 4:24 pm
It looks like the main front it is progressing fast enough that it may keep us closer to 2 inches instead of 3 in most areas which is good. So far, I am still under an inch here but getting close to inch with the heavier rain about to move in.
Lucy on January 19, 2019 at 4:52 pm
Saw Chris’ tweet about storm moving more south. Is there a new model to go with this?
Mary on January 19, 2019 at 5:26 pm
I don’t understand why you highlight a group of counties and say “locally higher amounts”. I used to think you meant local to Fayette, where you’re located (so local would be the surrounding counties), but now I see you highlighting all of eastern Ky and saying “locally higher amounts”. Local to what? Sorry if it’s a stupid question. Thanks!
Adam on January 19, 2019 at 5:35 pm
That just means that areas local to the highlighted zone may see higher than the estimate. Basically, that entire swath from NE Kentucky to SW Kentucky are forecast to get 1-3″ but some areas within that may see more.
Mary on January 19, 2019 at 9:55 pm
Thanks!
Andy Rose on January 19, 2019 at 6:01 pm
I find it odd that none of the naysayers are saying anything about the euro today.
DC on January 19, 2019 at 6:23 pm
Meck only has so troll accounts
Troy on January 19, 2019 at 6:53 pm
Well, after that ridiculous Euro snow map from yesterday, I for one refuse to even look at the Euro again. lol
BubbaG on January 19, 2019 at 8:38 pm
That would be counterintuitive, since the Nays doubt the models by default 😉
That all sai, unless more moisture feeding in from south, it does not seem to have enough to get past the low end of CB’s snow map. Cold air in, most of moisture gone. Moisture scraps.
Thanks CB! Go Cats!
Looks like Frankfort might see a decent snow.
Chris does a great job! I hope you all up north and west of SE KY enjoy the snow. I will probably not post again until Monday as I can’t bare to watch the Twitter feed blow up with pics from the same areas getting snow… sigh.
Again, I root for Jimbo as he has a slightly better shot of real accumulation than I do down here do to track of upper low. You all enjoy and see ya next week!
I wont get more than a dusting if that. Most likely flurries blowing around with no sticking. The wedge will keep temps up till most of the moisture is gone. Then I will get ready for the next rain event Wednesday when temperatures hit 50 again.
CB, might want to talk to your IT folks, cause if the blog is choking for a storm not even direct hitting your main demographic, this blog will have a big mushroom cloud when one does.
Go Cats!!
Thanks Chris. Looks like now casting will be the guide. But if you have any pull at all, please tell Mother anaturexti show some snow love to those of us in south central and south eastern Ky, ok?
Huntington WV, always the bridesmaid never the bride. Happy Mud Season
Does it look like moisture going bye bye out west , or am I the only one?
I see it too Dave, on the radar–looks like there’s a dry slot, snd then not much behind that.
Looks like our friend the dry slot making an appearance.
Not sure what your looking at but it’s already over achieving out west
Looking forward to our midweek rain and mud.
Guess winter starts after the next storm,
It’s getting a bit old Bryan. Chill
Yes, after the next mid-week warmup and rain.
CB, might want to get your IT folks working on your site. This is not even a big hit for most of your viewing demographic, but the site is choked. It will probably be toast if more a direct hit on KY.
Jeez half of yall are so annoying and negative on here…give it a rest
Thank you for saying it, I was about to lose it from the whining and negativity! Everybody is an expert on here!!!!
Hopefully it will snow in the whiners area so we can get a day or two break from all the whining lol.
Chris up the chances to 3 to 8 inches where I live in Southern Ohio.
It’s all about the placement of the low presser and how fast the cold air gets drawn in.
Fingers crossed for at least a couple inches in the Ashland area this weekend. Hope all that are wishing for some snow get to see it this weekend.
Terry, I see flood warnings out for Southeast KY finally. Be careful.
It looks like the main front it is progressing fast enough that it may keep us closer to 2 inches instead of 3 in most areas which is good. So far, I am still under an inch here but getting close to inch with the heavier rain about to move in.
Saw Chris’ tweet about storm moving more south. Is there a new model to go with this?
I don’t understand why you highlight a group of counties and say “locally higher amounts”. I used to think you meant local to Fayette, where you’re located (so local would be the surrounding counties), but now I see you highlighting all of eastern Ky and saying “locally higher amounts”. Local to what? Sorry if it’s a stupid question. Thanks!
That just means that areas local to the highlighted zone may see higher than the estimate. Basically, that entire swath from NE Kentucky to SW Kentucky are forecast to get 1-3″ but some areas within that may see more.
Thanks!
I find it odd that none of the naysayers are saying anything about the euro today.
Meck only has so troll accounts
Well, after that ridiculous Euro snow map from yesterday, I for one refuse to even look at the Euro again. lol
That would be counterintuitive, since the Nays doubt the models by default 😉
That all sai, unless more moisture feeding in from south, it does not seem to have enough to get past the low end of CB’s snow map. Cold air in, most of moisture gone. Moisture scraps.