Good Sunday, everyone. Our winter storm is finally winding down after producing high water producing rain, heavy snow, blowing snow, freezing rain, sleet, whiteout conditions and a major temperature drop. That pretty much sums up our storm system. 🙂
Many roads are covered with snow and ice to start our Sunday and travel is not recommended. Blowing snow and small drifts are even an issue in several areas. The steady falling snow tapers off in eastern Kentucky this morning, but a few flurries or snow showers will be possible through the day.
There’s also another weak system diving in from the northwest later today. That may have a band of light snow with it as it approaches the western half of the state. Highs today are mid teens in the north and low 20s south. Wind chills are in the single digits or near zero all day. Actual lows tonight reach the single digits and may head close to zero in the north.
I will have your tracking tools in a bit.
Folks, I have not been shy about where I thought the second half of winter would take us. With our second winter storm in a week now behind us, we are off to a good start to this harsh pattern. Well, I think this is the tip of the iceberg, no pun intended.
Our next system arrives Tuesday as a modified arctic front approaches. Temps do spike ahead of this with some showers developing by Tuesday night. As the front slides through, a wave of low pressure develops along the front and throws another round of winter weather at us Wednesday and early Thursday. That will be followed by another snow maker with a true arctic front on Friday…
That is followed up by a system that can REALLY dig in here by Saturday and it has another system right on its heels…
Canadian
New GFS…
This pattern ain’t playing around! I will get more into all that later today. Until then, I have you all set to track the latest storm out of town…
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
Mountain Parkway near Slade
Pine Mountain
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
Paducah
Have a good one and take care.
36 Comments
Suzanna Starr Williams on January 20, 2019 at 5:10 am
Looks like we’re in for a bumpy ride! Thanks for all your hard work Chris!
Looks like between 1 and 2 inches of snow southside of Lex. Was hoping for more but it also looks very icy which I could do without. Here’s hoping future systems produce much less rain and much more snow.
Schroeder on January 20, 2019 at 7:00 am
Storm rain total : 1.43 inches. Snow depth at 4 inches here in my yard in Taylor county.
Andy Rose on January 20, 2019 at 7:32 am
It rained then it got cold nothing unusual in my backyard.
Chris Bowles on January 20, 2019 at 8:03 am
Did the majority of us south of Ohio River, hit 3″, or up to 8″?
Where’s the naysayers saying all we gonna get is backside flurries
Andy Rose on January 20, 2019 at 9:08 am
That is all I got and like most others only concerned with my back yard
Jim B on January 20, 2019 at 10:20 am
That’s basically what I got also… is stating facts naysaying??? Man, Donald J is rubbing off on some people haha
BubbaG on January 20, 2019 at 9:22 am
Richmond got an inch, if we round up. Looking at the cams even in the broader areas, not seeing how this was a winter storm for all but boarder areas. Still not appreciating what the other storm was either….
Has our definition of winter storms shifted to all the above? Based on some tweets, some folks might be referring to drifts 😉
I guess NWS measures drifts and writes it down as official measurement too…as Buford T Justice would say, “dem scum bums”
Jeff Hamlin on January 20, 2019 at 1:20 pm
Correction: you got an inch at your house. 😉
Jimbo on January 20, 2019 at 11:46 am
Not sure yet about total rainfall but I surprisingly did pickup around an inch of snow. Brings my yearly total to a little over 2 inches. Far below normal. But beggars can’t be choosers. Hope it stays cloudy here so it hangs around a little while.
Terry on January 20, 2019 at 1:18 pm
Yes! My snow wishing for you paid off….lol….I did think you were going to get more than me this time! I was going to not post until Monday but I don’t feel so left out as no one really got much with 3 inches as the higher end out north and west!
My season-date is also between 2 and 1/2 to almost 3….terrible but maybe better soon!
Josh on January 20, 2019 at 1:02 pm
That’s about all Ashland got is back side flurries so yes here I am the naysayer.
MarkLex on January 20, 2019 at 8:11 am
It’s still snowing in Lexington atm. Not heavy, but overcast and looks frigid out. This happens SO many times…….the first half of winter is snowless and then the second half of winter arrives with snows/cold and a LATE spring.
People were talking about the only blizzard we had was the one in the 70s? I thought the Feb ’98 dusting was a blizzard……I mean, there was wind with it and heavy snow and snow drifts. It drifted over my backyard fence and satellite dish. I think Lexington got 18 inches and Louisville got 22. It’s pretty vivid in my mind because I had not lived here that long at that point…….and I remember thinking the winters here must be really bad. To me, it was comparable to the 93 superstorm when I was living in NC. There we also had 18 inches of snow and lots of wind.
BubbaG on January 20, 2019 at 8:21 am
Got one in 94. I75 was shut down. Temps are also a blizzard factor. 98 stayed around freezing.
What was the other storm we got this year, and did this fit the criteria for one? Not being a smarty pants, but will admit when I’m confused. Not referred to frozen accumulation?
BubbaG on January 20, 2019 at 8:23 am
Regional?
Prelude on January 20, 2019 at 11:31 am
Temps are not a requirement for a blizzard factor. It’s wind 35 mph or greater and visibility of a quarter of a mile or lower for a three straight hour period. I know a lot of people think that the winter storm of 1998 and especially the winter storm of 1994 were blizzard’s but they were not. At least not in the Ohio Valley. Granted both them storms were memorable but not blizzard’s.
MarkLex on January 20, 2019 at 1:02 pm
well the superstorm ’93 was a blizzard for sure……and I saw no difference in the level of white out with either of them.
BubbaG on January 20, 2019 at 2:10 pm
Yeh, 93…..
Point here still being, if we have already had two storms- where was the snow then and not much now. Not adding up in regards to being snow storms. Even using fuzzy math.
feederband on January 20, 2019 at 8:12 am
I have 2.25 inches in south LouMetro. Looks like the early models hit this one. No major snow totals south of the river. South Central IN hit it big with reports of 8″ in Bedford IN.
BubbaG on January 20, 2019 at 2:14 pm
Everybody loves them there cherries- even the mets 🙂
Seriously though, the average of the models fit the forecasts- catch is the models ain’t exactly accurate. Seems the mets need to go old school 🙂
Emily Martin on January 20, 2019 at 8:33 am
East Kentucky has yet to get a winter storm. The most snow we had all year came inNovember. Right now our ground isn’t completely covered. Do you think we will get in on some of this white stuff. Bought the kids a sleigh this year would love to try it out. Western and central Kentucky has had it all so far. Very discouraging
Bernard P. Fife on January 20, 2019 at 8:42 am
Nothing but backside flurries in Wayne County, very few flakes at that. I guess we’ll see what the next systems bring but confidence is low as daytime temps are forecast above freezing in this part of the state.
Coffeelady on January 20, 2019 at 8:51 am
Thanks Chris. Woke up to a skiff of snow and streets and sidewalks are a solid sheet of ice. Looks not bad out there but if you look at the street in front of the house you can tell it is solid ice! Got a big pot of chili made and plenty of peanut butter and milk! ( and bread!) 😉 Stay warm and safe everyone. Here’s hoping the next one brings us snow instead of over 2.5 inches of rain. Have a good Sunday all.
Faye on January 20, 2019 at 9:45 am
Chris, when you made your list of all the things this storm brought, you left out the touch of sunshine and the beautiful double rainbow. Anyway, got about 1 1/2 to 2 inches of snow in my part of Jessamine. Hard to measure as the wind has blown the snow around.
About 3 INCHES of snow here in my next of wood at western ky.
Rachel on January 20, 2019 at 11:07 am
I know everyone keeps saying the GFS is out to lunch, but I feel like the past two storms the GFS has been spot on with totals here in Louisville. We have between 1.5-2 inches outside my apartment. Most of the other models had us with anywhere from 4-8 inches consistently.
Not seven days out. But short term it has been doing better than average. When I see a NAM snowfall forecast I cut the totals in half.
Troy on January 20, 2019 at 2:47 pm
The cold hard facts are that the GFS has outperformed ALL models since the beginning of the season. Seems the only times it is “garbage” is when it’s not showing what someone wants to see…
Snow lover on January 20, 2019 at 12:24 pm
Hardly anything in Columbia,KY and melting quick with the sun.
Rodger Dodger on January 20, 2019 at 12:42 pm
Rodger will take his 2″ or so but those short term models yesterday morning showing 8″+ along the river were a huge bust! Going forward looks interesting – hopefully Mr Bailey’s ideas on the winter’s second half will prove true. Rodger will say that Mr Bailey’s talk all last week about the second low taking over was very good forecasting. Rodger in Dodger
Looks like we’re in for a bumpy ride! Thanks for all your hard work Chris!
Now this is more like it!
Meanwhile, in Owensboro…
https://youtu.be/Q3Lo-NYO8js
https://youtu.be/9vwduScKYNA
Looks like between 1 and 2 inches of snow southside of Lex. Was hoping for more but it also looks very icy which I could do without. Here’s hoping future systems produce much less rain and much more snow.
Storm rain total : 1.43 inches. Snow depth at 4 inches here in my yard in Taylor county.
It rained then it got cold nothing unusual in my backyard.
Did the majority of us south of Ohio River, hit 3″, or up to 8″?
Where’s the naysayers saying all we gonna get is backside flurries
That is all I got and like most others only concerned with my back yard
That’s basically what I got also… is stating facts naysaying??? Man, Donald J is rubbing off on some people haha
Richmond got an inch, if we round up. Looking at the cams even in the broader areas, not seeing how this was a winter storm for all but boarder areas. Still not appreciating what the other storm was either….
Has our definition of winter storms shifted to all the above? Based on some tweets, some folks might be referring to drifts 😉
Yep – an inch is about right. About 2 inches for the season – total.
I guess NWS measures drifts and writes it down as official measurement too…as Buford T Justice would say, “dem scum bums”
Correction: you got an inch at your house. 😉
Not sure yet about total rainfall but I surprisingly did pickup around an inch of snow. Brings my yearly total to a little over 2 inches. Far below normal. But beggars can’t be choosers. Hope it stays cloudy here so it hangs around a little while.
Yes! My snow wishing for you paid off….lol….I did think you were going to get more than me this time! I was going to not post until Monday but I don’t feel so left out as no one really got much with 3 inches as the higher end out north and west!
My season-date is also between 2 and 1/2 to almost 3….terrible but maybe better soon!
That’s about all Ashland got is back side flurries so yes here I am the naysayer.
It’s still snowing in Lexington atm. Not heavy, but overcast and looks frigid out. This happens SO many times…….the first half of winter is snowless and then the second half of winter arrives with snows/cold and a LATE spring.
People were talking about the only blizzard we had was the one in the 70s? I thought the Feb ’98 dusting was a blizzard……I mean, there was wind with it and heavy snow and snow drifts. It drifted over my backyard fence and satellite dish. I think Lexington got 18 inches and Louisville got 22. It’s pretty vivid in my mind because I had not lived here that long at that point…….and I remember thinking the winters here must be really bad. To me, it was comparable to the 93 superstorm when I was living in NC. There we also had 18 inches of snow and lots of wind.
Got one in 94. I75 was shut down. Temps are also a blizzard factor. 98 stayed around freezing.
What was the other storm we got this year, and did this fit the criteria for one? Not being a smarty pants, but will admit when I’m confused. Not referred to frozen accumulation?
Regional?
Temps are not a requirement for a blizzard factor. It’s wind 35 mph or greater and visibility of a quarter of a mile or lower for a three straight hour period. I know a lot of people think that the winter storm of 1998 and especially the winter storm of 1994 were blizzard’s but they were not. At least not in the Ohio Valley. Granted both them storms were memorable but not blizzard’s.
well the superstorm ’93 was a blizzard for sure……and I saw no difference in the level of white out with either of them.
Yeh, 93…..
Point here still being, if we have already had two storms- where was the snow then and not much now. Not adding up in regards to being snow storms. Even using fuzzy math.
I have 2.25 inches in south LouMetro. Looks like the early models hit this one. No major snow totals south of the river. South Central IN hit it big with reports of 8″ in Bedford IN.
Everybody loves them there cherries- even the mets 🙂
Seriously though, the average of the models fit the forecasts- catch is the models ain’t exactly accurate. Seems the mets need to go old school 🙂
East Kentucky has yet to get a winter storm. The most snow we had all year came inNovember. Right now our ground isn’t completely covered. Do you think we will get in on some of this white stuff. Bought the kids a sleigh this year would love to try it out. Western and central Kentucky has had it all so far. Very discouraging
Nothing but backside flurries in Wayne County, very few flakes at that. I guess we’ll see what the next systems bring but confidence is low as daytime temps are forecast above freezing in this part of the state.
Thanks Chris. Woke up to a skiff of snow and streets and sidewalks are a solid sheet of ice. Looks not bad out there but if you look at the street in front of the house you can tell it is solid ice! Got a big pot of chili made and plenty of peanut butter and milk! ( and bread!) 😉 Stay warm and safe everyone. Here’s hoping the next one brings us snow instead of over 2.5 inches of rain. Have a good Sunday all.
Chris, when you made your list of all the things this storm brought, you left out the touch of sunshine and the beautiful double rainbow. Anyway, got about 1 1/2 to 2 inches of snow in my part of Jessamine. Hard to measure as the wind has blown the snow around.
Best post of the thread 🙂 Double rainbow FTW!
About 3 INCHES of snow here in my next of wood at western ky.
I know everyone keeps saying the GFS is out to lunch, but I feel like the past two storms the GFS has been spot on with totals here in Louisville. We have between 1.5-2 inches outside my apartment. Most of the other models had us with anywhere from 4-8 inches consistently.
Not seven days out.
But short term it has been doing better than average.
When I see a NAM snowfall forecast I cut the totals in half.
The cold hard facts are that the GFS has outperformed ALL models since the beginning of the season. Seems the only times it is “garbage” is when it’s not showing what someone wants to see…
Hardly anything in Columbia,KY and melting quick with the sun.
Rodger will take his 2″ or so but those short term models yesterday morning showing 8″+ along the river were a huge bust! Going forward looks interesting – hopefully Mr Bailey’s ideas on the winter’s second half will prove true. Rodger will say that Mr Bailey’s talk all last week about the second low taking over was very good forecasting. Rodger in Dodger