Major winter storm targets Kentucky with snow, ice, and dangerous cold
Bitter Cold Starts the Day as a Major Winter Storm Takes Aim
The day began on a brutally cold note across central and eastern Kentucky, with morning temperatures falling into the low teens and wind chills making it feel even colder. That cold air is setting the stage for what will be a high-impact winter storm expected to affect the region from later today through Monday morning.
A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect for the entire viewing area through Monday morning, and this system has the potential to significantly disrupt travel, daily routines, and weekend plans.
Snow Begins Today Before a Messy Transition Tonight
For much of the morning and early afternoon, conditions remain mostly cloudy and dry for many locations, though a few isolated snow flurries are possible. That quiet stretch won’t last long.
As we head into the afternoon and evening hours, moderate to heavy snow is expected to develop across much of the area. The majority of the region will remain snow through the daytime hours, but conditions begin to change late this evening.
Warmer air several thousand feet above the ground will start working into southern Kentucky overnight. While surface temperatures remain below freezing, that warmer layer aloft will cause falling snow to partially melt, leading to a transition to sleet and freezing rain, especially across southern portions of the viewing area.
Snow and Ice Totals Will Vary — Impacts Are the Bigger Story
Snowfall amounts will depend heavily on how long locations remain all snow versus how quickly sleet and freezing rain take over.
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Northern KentuckySnow totals of 10 to 12 inches, with locally higher amounts possible farther north.
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Bluegrass region:
Snow totals of 6 to 8 inches, with locally higher amounts of 9 inches +. -
Central Kentucky (including Richmond, Danville, Mount Vernon):
Around 4 to 8 inches of snow. -
Southern Kentucky:
Snow amounts drop off to 2 to 4 inches, but this is where ice becomes the main concern.
Ice accumulations could reach 0.50 inches or more in parts of southern Kentucky, especially near the Lake Cumberland region. Around Lexington, ice amounts may range from a light glaze up to around 0.25 inches.
When it comes to ice accumulation, anything over 0.50 inches of ice accumulations is where you start to see issues with power outages, tree limbs breaking causing a lot of issues as well as making travel nearly impossible.
Because sleet and freezing rain will cut into snowfall totals in the south, don’t fixate on exact numbers. This will be a messy, high-impact storm for everyone, regardless of precipitation type.
Travel Will Become Extremely Hazardous This Weekend
Whether you’re dealing with heavy snow in the north or ice and sleet in the south, travel conditions will rapidly deteriorate as the weekend goes on. Roads will become snow-covered, icy, and slick, with reduced visibility at times during heavier precipitation.
If you have weekend plans, the safest option is to postpone them. Staying home and allowing road crews time to work will be critical as this storm unfolds.
Cold Doesn’t Leave When the Storm Does
Once the winter storm exits early Monday, the danger doesn’t end.
Arctic air pours in behind the system, keeping temperatures extremely cold. Highs today remain in the teens with wind chills even colder. Sunday stays cold as well, with highs struggling into the 20s.
The coldest air arrives Monday night into Tuesday, when overnight lows fall into the single digits, and wind chills may dip below zero in some spots. Areas with deeper snowpack will feel the cold the most.
A Cold Weather Advisory is in affect for the entire viewing area Monday morning at 12 Am through Tuesday morning at 11 AM.
Bottom Line
This is a high-impact winter storm followed by dangerous cold, and everyone across the viewing area will feel its effects in some way. Snow, ice, and bitter wind chills will make travel difficult to nearly impossible at times.
Stay weather-aware, avoid unnecessary travel, and continue checking back with the ABC 36 Weather Team for updates as conditions evolve
