Hoping for an early spring on Groundhog Day, but more cold ahead
Groundhog Day starts cold
Whether you’re in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvnia waiting to see if we can get an early spring, or if you’re here in Kentucky, temperatures are frigid. Feels like temperatures for many are in the single digits on either side of zero.
A few snow showers will move into the Bluegrass through the late morning and early afternoon. We may see a light coating of snow on elevated surfaces, but for the most part, we won’t see many impacts. Still use caution when driving, as black ice continues to be an issue.
By the afternoon, winds will be breezy out of the south. This will bring temperatures into the lower 30s, with many at or above freezing. We haven’t seen above-freezing temperatures in Lexington since January 22nd. Wind chills will still be a bit lower, more like the mid 20s.
Active weather on Tuesday
A system moving through Tuesday morning will bring rain to start for most of the Bluegrass. To the north, temperatures near or slightly below freezing may cause heavy, wet snow to mix in with the rain. By the afternoon, moderate rainfall to the south and snow showers to the north will be widespread.
The line between precipitation will depend on the track of the system. The good news is that sleet and ice aren’t likely, just some slushy mix in between.
As a cold front sweeps through and pushes a majority of the precipitation out, it will cool temperatures down below freezing. This means some light snow showers will be possible for all of us on the back end of the system.
Impacts are expected to be minor, as most roadways will be above freezing and the rain will cut into snow totals. North of I-64, we may see 0.5″ – 1.0″ of snow. To the south, you may see a light coating from the evening snow, but most precipitation that falls will be rain.
Cold weather continues, but maybe there’s hope
Mid-week looks to stay in the 20s. The entire 7-day forecast looks to stay below average, even as temperatures near or exceed freezing.
There is hope ahead. Of course, we can wish for the groundhog not to see their shadow, therefore predicting an early spring. But also, long-term trends can give us a more concrete forecast.
Looking ahead at the first few weeks of February, we’re starting cold this week. Temperatures by the second week of February are trending a bit better. Long-term forecast trends show up seeing near or maybe even above average temperatures in the longterm. So this could mean a milder Valentine’s Day!
A lot can change still with long-term forecasts, so don’t bank on the cold leaving just yet. However, there is a little bit of hope.
