Frigid temperatures continue through the mid-week
Meteorologist Dillon Gaudet has the latest in your full ABC 36 Storm Team forecast
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – Brace yourselves for bitter cold weather as we honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day. With arctic air entrenched across the region, temperatures and wind chills will create dangerously cold conditions, especially during the morning hours. Here’s what to expect in the days ahead.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Frigid Start to the Week
If you’re planning to participate in the Freedom March in Lexington or any outdoor activities, bundle up in your warmest winter gear. Morning temperatures will hover near zero in many spots, with wind chills ranging from -5 to -10 degrees. While skies will feature plenty of sunshine, don’t let it fool you—highs will only reach the low-to-mid teens, and wind chills will stay in the single digits throughout the day.
Tuesday: A Brief Snow Chance and Slightly “Warmer” Conditions
Tuesday morning won’t be as harsh as Monday, but temperatures will still start in the single digits. A weak disturbance will move through the area during the day, bringing scattered flurries or light snow showers, particularly across northeast/eastern Kentucky. Highs will climb into the upper teens and low 20s, but wind chills will still feel bitterly cold. Snow accumulations, if any, are expected to be minimal.
Tuesday Night into Wednesday: The Core of Arctic Air Arrives
The coldest stretch of this arctic outbreak arrives late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Expect widespread lows near zero, with some areas dipping below zero. Light winds will add to the chill, producing dangerously low wind chill values. This type of cold could lead to frozen pipes, so take precautions by insulating exposed plumbing and letting faucets drip.
Midweek Warm-Up and Late Week Snow Chances
As the arctic air slowly loosens its grip, temperatures will begin to moderate midweek. Highs on Wednesday will climb into the mid-to-upper 20s, and by Thursday, we’ll see readings approaching the freezing mark. Another weak system may bring light snow showers late Thursday into Friday, but uncertainty remains about the timing and extent of any snowfall.
The Weekend: A Glimpse of Milder Air
A brief warm-up is expected over the weekend, with highs climbing into the low-to-mid 40s by Saturday and Sunday. Rain chances increase late Saturday night into Sunday as a system approaches from the west, bringing light to moderate rainfall. Details on this system will come into clearer focus later this week.
Stay tuned to the ABC 36 Storm Team for updates as we track the bitter cold and potential snow chances later this week. Be safe and stay warm!
ABC 36 HOUR FORECAST
Monday: Mostly sunny but bitterly cold. Highs in the low-to-mid teens, with wind chills staying in the single digits.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the single digits, with wind chills near-to-below zero.
Tuesday: Increasing clouds with scattered flurries or light snow showers, especially north and east. Highs in the upper teens to low 20s.
