Good Monday and welcome to winter. Today is what all you cold and snow lovers have been craving for the past few months. This isn’t some big storm blasting the region, but it’s a heck of a shot of arctic air and bursts of snow that we’re dealing with.

I have some tools for you guys to track the cold and snow, but I want to touch on a few things first.

Snow showers and squalls will break out across the region today and some of the action may be quite intense. Think of the squalls as summertime thunderstorms… they blow throw with blinding conditions and very gusty winds and then they are gone. Areas getting in on the squalls can pick up some fast accumulations and even hear a clap of thunder. Check out the NAM simulated radar through today…



You can actually see the enhanced bands showing up on that. Snow showers and squalls will carry us into Tuesday and will continue to get a booster shot of moisture from the Great Lakes.

Here’s my latest thinking on snowfall…



I want to stress that we’re dealing with snow showers and squalls and that makes it hard to really broadbrush totals on a map. Some areas getting under repeat squalls may pick up totals higher than forecast while those that are skipped may come up a bit short. The farther west you live into central and western Kentucky, the less confident I am on totals until I can see exactly how the radar sets up.

I do expect travel problems at times today and slick travel becomes likely this evening and overnight as temps drop into the teens. Winds will continue to be gusty an will blow the dry snow around.

Highs today will stay in the mid and upper 20s for many with low and mid 20s on Tuesday. The gusty winds will make it feel even colder than that. Brrrrr!

Let’s track the blast of winter…



Current Temps



Lexington


Pikeville


Middlesboro


Whitley County
I-75 MP 23

Frankfort
US60 @ US460

Louisville
I-64 @ 3rd St. Exit

Covington
Kentucky: I-71/I-75 at Buttermilk Pike

Ashland



I will have updates as needed and will be sending out some rapid fire thoughts and reports via twitter. Have a great Monday and take care.