National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Late January Extreme Cold; Watching East Coast Storm Threat This Weekend

The next blast of Arctic air surges south down the Plains, across the Great Lakes and through the Southeast and East Friday through Saturday. This could be longest duration of cold in several decades. Forecast models are being closely monitored for potential of another significant winter storm to impact the eastern United States this coming weekend. Confidence in coastal impacts has increased. Read More >

Overview

A winter storm system tracked across the south from the evening of December 8th through December 9th with a wintry mix of precipitation developing over southeastern Kentucky. The precipitation lifted northward into southeastern Kentucky overnight with a mixture of snow, freezing rain, and sleet. After dawn on Sunday, precipitation gradually changed over to heavy, wet snow across much of southeast Kentucky.  The event came to an end on the evening of the 9th with some locations in far eastern Kentucky reporting over 6 inches of wet snow.  Some locations also picked up a tenth to two tenths of an inch of ice. The combination of snow and ice resulted in fallen trees and power outages across southeastern Kentucky. Traffic impacts were also felt as the Kentucky State Police reported numerous accidents on Interstate 75 near and just south of London.

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Ice and snow in London (Picture courtesy of Johnnie Nicholson)