Showers and Thunderstorms for the Eastern Third of the Country; Fire Weather Concerns; Flooding Issues for the Great Lakes Region

Showers and thunderstorms will continue along and ahead of a cold front for the eastern third of the country. The rainfall for the Great Lakes region could prolong the ongoing flooding. Much cooler weather will filter in behind this cold front along and east of the Rockies. Where the rain is needed, the Southern High Plains, critical fire weather concerns through this weekend. Read More >

Overview

One of the strongest storms of the century and a rare true blizzard for eastern Kentucky, brought 6 to 30 inches of snow to eastern and southeastern Kentucky from March 12-14, 1993. Strong winds accompanied the snow, resulting in blizzard conditions and snow drifts of 6 to 10 feet. Interstate 75 was closed from Lexington to the Tennessee border and Interstate 64 was closed from Lexington to the West Virginia border, both for a period of two days. Between 3,000 and 4,000 motorists were stranded along both highways, causing emergency shelters to be set up in Ashland and London. In Whitley County, a man froze to death when he tried to walk from his home into Corbin as temperatures plummeted below zero behind the storm.

Some of the heavier snowfall amounts were: Perry County - 30 inches, Pikeville - 24 inches, Ashland - 22 inches, and London - 22 inches. At the Jackson National Weather Service Office, 19.8 inches fell in 24 hours. At Hazard, the 24 hour snowfall record for the state of Kentucky was set as 25 inches fell. In the higher terrain of Harlan County, 4 to 5 feet of snow were reported around Mary Ellen.