January cold eases for a bit into the mid-week

The chances of a significant winter system for the weekend are increasing

4 hours ago

T.G. Shuck,

Frigid Start to Tuesday, Sunshine Helps a Modest Recovery

Tuesday morning started off brutally cold across Central and Eastern Kentucky, even by mid to late January standards. Most locations woke up in the upper single digits, with a few low teens farther south. High pressure remained firmly in control through the day delivering plenty of sunshine and a light southeast breeze helped temperatures recover into the upper 20s by the afternoon. While it stayed cold, the sunshine at least made it feel a bit more tolerable compared to recent days.

Midweek System Brings a Brief Temperature Break

A weak frontal system will slide into the region on Wednesday bringing a quick change in conditions. This system may be a bit tricky for a few spots here in the Bluegrass and points westward during the morning commute as the moisture moves in and falls as freezing rain or light snow with temperatures hovering just below the freezing mark. With ground and air temperatures at or just below freezing, this could create some slick roadways along the I-64 corridor from Lexington back toward Louisville and down the Bluegrass Parkway. As a result a Winter Weather Advisory is our for the aforementioned areas from 4am to 11am Eastern Wednesday morning so keep that in mind. Eventually the precipitation should transition to spotty rain showers by the afternoon. Temperatures will respond nicely ahead of the front climbing back into the low 40s, offering a brief break from the recent Arctic cold. Moisture with this system is limited so we aren’t looking at big rainfall totals.

Eyes on the Weekend: Increasing Winter Storm Potential

After a quiet late week, attention quickly turns to the weekend as confidence continues to grow in a potentially impactful winter storm across the Ohio Valley, including Kentucky. Current data supports accumulating snow developing sometime Saturday into Sunday as a southern-stream system provides moisture while Arctic cold remains locked in at the surface.

It’s still far too early to pin down snowfall amounts, and any shift in the storm track or strength of the Arctic high could influence totals—or even introduce a brief wintry mix if warmer air noses in from the south. For now, snow remains the favored outcome. Regardless of precipitation, the cold will be intense, with highs in the teens and 20s and lows dropping back into the single digits. If you have weekend plans, now is the time to stay weather-aware and prepared for possible impacts.