A ‘prolonged storm’ could bring heavy snowfall, ice & bitter temps to Central KY
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- NWS: Significant winter storm likely to hit Kentucky Friday night through weekend
- Forecasters: heavy snow and ice possible; model snowfall output uncertain
- Bitter cold will follow with lows in single digits and highs in teens to mid-20s
A significant winter storm could hit Kentucky this weekend, possibly bringing heavy snow and ice to parts of the state, including Fayette County.
The storm is expected to arrive the night of Friday, Jan. 23 and last through most of the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. A swath of heavy snow, which is defined as 6 inches or more of snowfall in 24 hours, and ice is expected in areas from the southern Plains across the mid-South.
The NWS said Central Kentucky could be favorably positioned for a period of moderate to heavy snow. Forecasters have yet to predict how much snowfall the region could get, but significant amounts of wintry precipitation are possible.
“It is much too early to even mention forecast snowfall amounts,” NWS forecasters said in the area discussion forecast. “Deterministic model and ensemble mean snowfall output at this stage is likely wrong and certain to change. So take any model output or forecast snowfall totals you see on social media with a huge grain of salt.”
WKYT Chief Meteorologist Chris Bailey expects the storm to split into two systems. He said if that occurs, significant snow and ice accumulations would happen.
Bailey also did not predict how much snow could fall in Lexington, but said it could be a prolonged storm.
“Areas getting in on snow from this may experience snowfall ratios off the charts as temps right behind this boundary will be in the single digits and teens,” Bailey said in his forecast, issued Jan. 20.
Bitterly cold temperatures are expected to accompany the storm. The NWS said low temperatures could drop into the single digits Saturday and Sunday, with highs in the upper teens to mid-20s.
The cold weather is expected to linger into early next week.
