A brief break in the active weather pattern into President’s Day

Heavy rain across Central and Eastern Kentucky on Saturday led to widespread flooding, with many rivers and streams cresting well over their banks. Rainfall totals ranged from 2 to 4 inches in the east, while areas farther west saw even higher amounts between 4 and 6 inches. With the ground already saturated, this pushed numerous waterways beyond their limits, flooding roads, homes, and businesses. Unfortunately, the impacts of this flooding will linger for several days as river levels gradually crest and begin to recede.

As if the flooding wasn’t enough, much colder air rushed in changing lingering precipitation over to snow. A quick 1 to 2 inches of accumulation was reported in some spots early Sunday morning, adding an extra layer of difficulty for those dealing with high water. In addition winds have been strong gusting between 35 and 40 mph out of the west-northwest, making for a raw and blustery day across the region. With temperatures headed into the teens into Monday morning and some refreezing of water on the roadways/black ice, A Winter Weather Advisory is out for far Eastern Kentucky into Monday morning with the Bluegrass Region expiring late Sunday evening.

There is some good news ahead, though. As we move into Presidents Day, high pressure will build in, bringing dry but cold conditions. Highs will only reach the upper 20s, with early morning lows dipping into the teens. While this will give us a much-needed break from the rain, the quiet weather won’t last long.

A significant winter storm is shaping up for midweek, bringing the potential for several inches of accumulating snow. With a low-pressure system tracking to our south, there will be plenty of available moisture, and the atmosphere looks cold enough from top to bottom to support an all-snow event beginning Tuesday night and continuing through Wednesday. While exact snowfall totals remain uncertain, confidence is growing that this will be a disruptive winter storm with several inches of snow possible along with widespread travel impacts. A Winter Storm Warning is out for much of Central Kentucky from Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening with the potential snow on the way.

Once the snow winds down into Thursday morning, another blast of Arctic air will settle in, with highs struggling to climb out of the low 20s and overnight lows dropping into the single digits. If we have fresh snow on the ground, some areas could see subzero wind chills. Beyond that, our weather looks to quiet down to end the week, with temperatures gradually moderating back into the 30s for highs by the weekend.

ABC 36 Storm Team 3-Day Forecast

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy and breezy, a few flurries. Lows in the upper teens.
President’s Day: Partly sunny and cold. Highs in the upper 20s.
Monday Night: Scattered clouds, still cold. Lows in the upper teens.

Stay with the ABC 36 Storm Team for the latest updates as we track this next winter storm.