Ice storm in progress

A storm system is currently bringing accumulating snow and ice across over 100 million people across the United States. 2100 miles of winter weather alerts light up the map as seen below, we even have a tornado warning in Alabama.

Purple are Winter Weather Advisories 

Pink are Winter Storm Warnings

Dark Purple are Ice Storm Warnings.

The timing for Central/Southern Kentucky has changed just a little. Rain is expected to transition to freezing rain by 6:00 pm est. .25 to .75 inches of ice is still probable across the area. The ice storm warning remains in effect until 7 am est Friday morning.

Be prepared for falling trees and powerlines, winds will be picking up by evening. Wind gusts around 25 mph will help aid in falling lines and trees if they are weighed down with ice.

Approximately 19,162 Kentickians are without power in Western Kentucky from the accumulating ice. Reminder, never run a generator inside or within a few feet your home. Never keep your car running in a closed garage. If you lose power and do not have a generator, come up with a common area to huddle in. Close doors to rooms that are not occupied to keep warmth. Wrap yourselves with blankets and wear layers of clothing. Be mindful and watch burning candles.

Winter & Ice Storm on Thursday

 We have been watching this system for days now and we are at the time frame where we can increase our confidence in precipitation types. An Ice Storm Warning has been issued for Central Kentucky.  There still remains some uncertainty about how long precipitation types will fall in each stage. Keep in mind it can go 1 of 2 ways. One way is that we can have lower ice totals due to a faster transition to sleet/snow, or we could end up with higher ice totals if we get stuck in the 2nd phase. This will be better fine tuned later today and tomorrow. 

Ice Storm Warning

* WHAT...Significant icing is expected. Ice accumulations of one quarter to one half of an inch are expected. In addition, up to an inch of sleet and snow will be possible.

* WHERE...Much of central Kentucky.

* WHEN...From 7 AM EST /6 AM CST/ Thursday to 7 AM EST /6 AM CST/ Friday.

* IMPACTS...Scattered power outages and tree damage will be possible due to the ice. Travel will be extremely hazardous and could be impossible at times.

Travel is strongly discouraged. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Prepare for possible power outages.

For Kentucky Road Conditions please visit http://goky.ky.gov

The WPC has highlighted portions of Kentucky in a 40% chance of accumulating greather than it equal to .25 inches of ice from freezing rain.

Prepare now, preparations should be done by tonight! Prepare in case of power outages, charge your devices and make sure you have enough supplies and food. Avoid travel unless absolutely necessary on Thursday and Thursday Night. If you must travel, make sure to take additional jackets, blankets, and non perishable foods.

Im seeing a lot of ice storm anxiety, maybe this will help. In 8 days it will be the 1 year anniversary of the February 10th, 2021 Ice Storm. I see some similarities only a little more ice is forecast this time, so this storm will be a little worse than that, but no where near as much as the January 26th, 2009 storm (on my bday) which produced at least 2.5 inches of ice with a foot of snow. The storm as the weather channel named it shirley produced .40 to .60" of ice across the state. There is potential for some locations to top these numbers at .50 to .75+. The state as a whole will have a large range gap .25 to .75+

Uncertainty remains and you really need to pay attention to Meteorologist who will be Nowcasting tomorrow because there's four phases that we will go through and we will not know how fast we will get through each stage which is rain, to freezing rain, to sleet, to snow. A longer time in freezing rain more ice, less time, less ice etc and vice versa.

Here's that storm in blogs and pictures: 

https://www.weathergraphy.com/2021/02/significant-winter-weather-midweek.html

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLK70MTsoDe/?utm_medium=copy_link

Winter & Ice Storm Potential

Forecast models are beginning to come into agreement with the placement of winter precipitation types. There is some potential for heavy freezing rain/sleet to snow Thursday night as moisture and arctic air dives through our region. 

Winter Storm Watches and Warnings has been issued for Millions. The father Northwest you are, the more snow, the farther south and east the more rain and heavy freezing rain potential. 

For Central Kentucky 

Winter Storm Watch

* WHAT...Heavy freezing rain changing to sleet and snow. Total ice accumulations of up to one quarter of an inch. Total snow and sleet accumulations of several inches possible.

* WHERE...Portions of east central, north central and south central Kentucky.

* WHEN...From Thursday morning through Friday morning.

* IMPACTS...Power outages and tree damage are possible due to the freezing rain. Slippery road conditions due to sleet and snow will be possible Thursday afternoon through Friday morning. Plan on very difficult travel conditions.

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.

Ice potential 

The WPC has issued a 10% chance of accumulating greater than or equal to .25 (quarter of an inch of freezing rain) which is more than enough to start causing problems.

 

More updates to come later, in the meantime be sure you will have everything you need in the instance of an ice storm

Winter Weather Afternoon Update

The National Weather Service has extended the Winter Weather Advisory until 10pm EST/9pm CST. 

Winter Weather Advisory

* WHAT...Locally intense snow showers with reductions in visibilities to below a mile.

* WHERE...Portions of southern Indiana, and most of central Kentucky east of Interstate 65.

* WHEN...Until 10 PM EST /9 PM CST/ this evening.

* IMPACTS...Intense snowfall rates will reduce visibilities and could create slick conditions on some roadways. The commute home will be negatively impacted.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Be alert for changes in visibilities and road surface conditions. Slow down and leave extra space to vehicles around you.

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

In Indiana, for Indiana Road Conditions please visit http://pws.trafficwise.org In Kentucky, for Kentucky Road Conditions please visit http://goky.ky.gov

A Special Weather Statement has been issued for a snow squall.

Special Weather Statement

HAZARDS...A snow squall accompanied by winds of up to 25 MPH which can rapidly reduce visibility to less than one mile. This squall is producing brief heavy snow at the rate of 1 inch per hour.

LOCATION AND MOVEMENT...At 348 PM EST, a snow squall was over Bardstown moving southeast at 20 MPH.

THIS SQUALL WILL BE NEAR... Springfield around 440 PM EST.

SAFETY INFO... Conditions can deteriorate rapidly in winter weather situations. Be prepared for snow or ice covered roads. Slow down and allow extra time to reach your destination.

Winter Weather Advisory for Gusty Winds & Snow

In purple:

Winter Weather Advisory

* WHAT...Scattered Snow Bursts with reductions in visibilities to below a mile.

* WHERE...South of Bedford to English line to east of I 65 to west of I 75.

* WHEN...Until 10 PM EST /9 PM CST/ this evening.

* IMPACTS...Snow bursts will drop visibilities significantly, and along with winds of 10 to 20 mph will create travel problems during the commute home. Be prepared for a sudden drop in visibility from these scattered snow showers.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Slow down if you encounter a burst of snow slow down immediately but do not slam on your brakes.

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

In Indiana, for Indiana Road Conditions please visit http://pws.trafficwise.org In Kentucky, for Kentucky Road Conditions please visit http://goky.ky.gov

In tan: 

Special Weather Statement

HAZARDS...A band of snow accompanied by winds of 20 MPH which can rapidly reduce visibility to less than one mile.

LOCATION AND MOVEMENT...At 909 AM EST, a band of snow was along a line extending from 8 miles southeast of Williamstown to 9 miles northeast of Elizabethtown and moving southeast at 20 MPH.

THIS BAND OF HEAVY SNOW WILL BE NEAR... Frankfort, Bardstown, and Cynthiana around 945 AM EST. Lexington, Lebanon, and Springfield around 1030 AM EST.

SAFETY INFO... Conditions can deteriorate rapidly in winter weather situations. Be prepared for snow or ice covered roads. Slow down and allow extra time to reach your destination.

Accumulating snow Tonight-Thursday Morning

 A rain to snow event is likely tonigh. Rain will transition to snow as temperatures continue to drop. Almost all of Kentucky is under a Winter Weather Advisory in purple. Locations in Eastern Kentucky stand the greatest chance for higher accumulations at this time.

Winter Weather Advisory

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of one to three inches in most locations, possibly locally two to four inches in the southern Blue Grass. A light glaze of ice may be possible as well.

* WHERE...Central Kentucky and far southern Indiana.

* WHEN...From 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ this evening to 8 AM EST /7 AM CST/ Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions due to icy or snow covered roads. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning commute.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds out of the north may gust to around 20 mph and will bring wind chills down into the 5 to 15 degree range by morning.

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

In Indiana, for Indiana Road Conditions please visit https://pws.trafficwise.org. In Kentucky, for Kentucky Road Conditions please visit http://goky.ky.gov

Rain to Snow Wednesday Night

 There is a chance for a rain to snow maker on Wednesday night through Thursday morning. Accumulations look to be light across most of the area. Locally higher amounts are possible where the deformation band sets up, and how fast a location changes from rain to snow. The American models are in agreement, but the European model is very conservative in amounts.