Updated: ‘Impactful’ winter storm coming to KY. Winter storm warning declared
An ”impactful” winter storm could dump more than four inches of snow on Central Kentucky and several inches of rain on Eastern Kentucky beginning Monday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
Fayette County and other areas of Central Kentucky are included in a winter storm warning in effect from 7 p.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Wednesday, according to the NWS. Heavy mixed precipitation is expected along with a light glaze of ice.
The area most likely to be hit hard is between Interstate 64 in Indiana and Kentucky, and the Western Kentucky and Bluegrass parkways, according to the NWS. Heavy snow may cause the roads to be quickly covered overnight Tuesday, impacting the morning and evening commutes. Visibility may also be poor during the heaviest periods of the storm.
Conditions are expected to improve Wednesday when the temperature rises. The NWS’ seven-day forecast for Lexington projects a high temperature of 46 degrees.
South-central and southeast Kentucky are under a flood watch during the same time as the winter storm watch, according to the NWS.
One to 2 inches of rain is expected in the flood watch area. The new rainfall, combined with precipitation from the past week, could cause flooding in rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
The Green, Kentucky, Licking, Rolling Fork and Rough rivers may all experience flooding, according to the NWS.
And more rain is expected later in the week, beginning as early as Wednesday evening.
“With already saturated ground and area rivers and streams trying to recover from the previous two rounds of precipitation, widespread and impactful flooding remains a concern,” NWS forecasters said in an area forecast discussion forum
The far southeast corner of Kentucky, around Middlesboro, could get 6 to 8 inches of precipitation over the next week, according to NWS. Most of Southern Kentucky is forecast to see 4 to 6 inches of precipitation, and Lexington is expected to get 3 to 4 inches.
Precipitation could turn to light snow again next Sunday.
The storm is the latest installment of what has been a snowy and frigid start to 2025. The average temperature in Lexington this past January was 29 degrees, about 5 degrees colder than the city’s typical January average, according to the NWS.
Lexington also received 13.1 inches of snow in January, well above the average of 4.7, according to the NWS. The 5.5 inches of snow received on Jan. 5 set a new record for that day in Lexington.
While the temperature has been more stable, and often warmer than normal, for the past two weeks, a lot of rain has fallen. NWS data says Lexington has already received 2.63 inches of rain this month, more than doubling the monthly average of 1.06.
Despite the unusual weather events, Samantha Wilson with the NWS said impactful winter storms can be common this time of year. She said baroclinic zones, a region ripe for strengthening and weakening systems, set up more frequently at the beginning of the year, which produces storms.
“We’ve had some good events where we’ve seen a nice dumping of snow and colder temperatures,” Wilson said. “Then we warmed back up and now we have another wave coming through.”
Lexington preparing for winter storm
In a news release sent Monday, Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said the city is prepared for this week’s winter weather after the previous winter storm left roads frozen and schools closed for days.
“The forecasters are saying we will be getting more snow for Valentine’s week,” Gorton said in the press release. “The city has made a number of changes since the snow and ice storm in January by quickly identifying key improvements we could make, and putting them in place immediately.”
The changes include added snowplows and divided up manpower. The city said it has restocked the supply of salt and Beet Heet, and now has 5,900 tons of salt.
The city said it will be in communication with Fayette County Public Schools during the storm.
“We continue to collaborate closely with our partners at LFUCG to minimize any disruptions to schools, Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins said in the press release. “Our coordinated efforts prioritize safety, and we trust that any potential interruptions will align with that commitment.”
This story was originally published February 10, 2025 at 8:26 AM.
