Friday Afternoon Update

I wanted to let you know that the NWS has expanded the winter storm watch to now include all of central and eastern Kentucky. The counties closest to the TN/KY border had been left off the watches but they are now included. This is not surprising, as they have always been at the southernmost area of concern for icing. The NWS is erring on the side of caution by adding these southern Kentucky counties and they are right to do so…ice is nothing to mess around with.

While we will escape a crippling ice storm here on the plateau by staying at or under 1/10 inch of ice, you folks north of a line from Livingston to Jamestown to Oneida should be aware that you may get closer to 2/10 (0.20) inch of ice. Power outages begin at about 1/4 (0.25) inch of ice. Keep in mind that colder air may get trapped in some of the valley areas and cause ice to get close to that 0.25″ mark. Keep this in mind if you are in those colder areas of northern Overton, Fentress,or Scott Counties. This would include all of Clay (Celina) and Pickett (Byrdstown) Counties.

The highest impacts for all of us to prepare for include: Hazardous travel Sunday morning, the potential for hazardous travel Monday from snow, and the extended period of very cold temps next week. We will likely experience temps that are below freezing for at least 100 hours straight starting Monday. Prepare those pipes!

On the map below, the yellow box indicates the area of greatest concern for ice accumulations that could approach 0.25 inches before the ice changes to plain rain Sunday morning. The risk of this happening is low, but not zero.

As for the rest of us, high impacts to travel are likely across the plateau Sunday morning. Again, I will have a full special update tonight concerning the winter weather coming Sunday – Monday, as well as a look into the potential winter storm at the end of next week. Lots of new data is coming in over the next few hours and that will really help with the forecast for both Sunday and Monday and the end of next week. You all enjoy the afternoon and I’ll see you tonight!

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