What’s the biggest snowstorm in Lexington history? See historic weather
Kentucky is no stranger to historic and disruptive winter storms.
And with a weekend forecast calling for double-digit inches of snow, Lexington and Central Kentucky residents will again be preparing for potential disaster.
But where will this weekend’s storm stack up against the snowiest on record?
Here’s a look back at some recent notable winter storms in Lexington.
1998 record-breaking winter storm
The record-breaking 1998 winter storm brought up to 22 inches of snow to the area and is remembered as one of the top 10 winter events in Central Kentucky.
A winter storm rolling up the East Coast veered into Kentucky and dumped 11 inches on Lexington, the city’s fourth most in a single day. Over three days, 17.4 fell, a record for February.
Ten people were killed in the storm. Roofs collapsed and interstate traffic couldn’t move, with backups up to 50 miles long. Most Kentucky counties declared a state of emergency.
2015: Lexington’s last double-digit snow storm
The last time Lexington received at least 10 inches of snow from a single storm was March 2015.
Just over 17 inches of snow fell on the city over two days. The snowfall broke the city record for the most snowfall ever received over a two-day period.
Lexington’s snowiest days
Record-breaking single-day snowfall totals, according to the National Weather Service:
- 13.4 inches: January 26, 1943.
- 11.2 inches: January 13, 1917.
- 11.0 inches: February 4, 1998.
- 10.2 inches: February 16, 2015.
- 10.0 inches: March 5, 2015, and January 17, 1994.
- 9.5 inches: March 27, 1947; December 6, 1910; January 6, 1910.
- 9.4 inches: January 22, 1966, and December 8, 1917.
- 9.2 inches: March 4, 1917.
- 9.0 inches: December 24, 1939.
- 8.9 inches: January 19, 1936.
And it’s not just snow. Here are some notable ice storms in recent Lexington history:
2003 ice storm
About 146,000 people lost power in a February 2003 ice storm that featured 1-inch ice accumulations in Lexington and Frankfort.
One person died when an ice-covered tree limb fell on them, according to the National Weather Service. Others died after trying to trim trees near power lines, according to the state public service commission.
In Lexington, during overnight hours, tree limbs could be heard crashing to the ground under the weight of the ice. When residents woke up, the power was out and much of the city plunged into a week of frustrating darkness and freezing cold.
2009 ice storm
The 2009 ice storm was considered the most significant local weather event from 2000 to 2009, according to the National Weather Service in Louisville.
Up to 6 inches of snow accumulated before rain and freezing rain caused ice accumulations greater than 1 inch in some areas. An additional 3 or 4 inches of snow accumulated in some areas.
The storm caused Kentucky’s largest recorded power outage, with 609,000 homes and businesses losing power.
