National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Overview

The first significant winter storm of the 2015-2016 winter season impacted much of Kentucky Friday, January 22, 2016. A deepening low pressure system across the southern US lifted copious amounts of moisture northward into the lower Ohio Valley. The combination of cold air in place brought a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain initially to southern Kentucky. Precipitation quickly changed over to moderate to heavy snow at times as several snow bands pivoted through the state. The heaviest snow fell from mid-morning until the mid-evening hours before tapering off around midnight.

 

The snow resulted in very hazardous to impossible driving conditions, especially across central and eastern Kentucky. Portions of Interstate 75 south of Lexington were shut down as several accidents prevented road crews from clearing the interstate. Additionally, strong northeast winds resulted in areas of blowing and drifting snow, further hampering road clearing efforts. Widespread school and business closings were reported Friday.

Storm summaries from other Kentucky NWS offices:

 

Snow

...OFFICIAL STORM TOTALS FOR JANUARY 22-23 2016...

LOCATION                     AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       LAT/LON
BOWLING GREEN               12.2 IN    700  AM 01/23   36.96N/86.42W
LEXINGTON                    7.1 IN    700  AM 01/23   38.04N/84.60W
FORT KNOX                    4.0 IN    700  AM 01/23   37.91N/85.95W
LOUISVILLE NWS OFFICE        2.3 IN    700  AM 01/23   38.11N/85.64W
LOUISVILLE INTL              1.9 IN    700  AM 01/23   38.18N/85.74W

Wind Gusts

...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS DURING JANUARY 22 WINTER STORM...

LOCATION                     SPEED     TIME/DATE       PROVIDER

...INDIANA...

...CLARK COUNTY...
1 ESE HENRYVILLE             26 MPH    0532 PM 01/22   CWOP

...DUBOIS COUNTY...
HUNTINGBURG                  29 MPH    0855 PM 01/22   AWOS
KELLERVILLE                  22 MPH    1225 AM 01/23   CWOP

...FLOYD COUNTY...
1 ESE SAINT JOSEPH           20 MPH    0947 PM 01/22   CWOP
1 N NEW ALBANY               20 MPH    0959 PM 01/22   AWS

...HARRISON COUNTY...
3 W LANESVILLE               28 MPH    1018 PM 01/22   CWOP
LANESVILLE                   25 MPH    0934 PM 01/22   CWOP

...JEFFERSON COUNTY...
MADISON                      29 MPH    0952 PM 01/22   AWOS

...PERRY COUNTY...
1 SSW APALONA                20 MPH    0711 PM 01/22   RAWS

...SCOTT COUNTY...
1 WSW AUSTIN                 27 MPH    0829 PM 01/22   CWOP

...WASHINGTON COUNTY...
3 W PUMPKIN CENTER           21 MPH    0809 PM 01/22   RAWS

...KENTUCKY...

...BOYLE COUNTY...
DANVILLE                     26 MPH    0815 PM 01/22   AWOS

...BRECKINRIDGE COUNTY...
1 NE MCQUADY                 31 MPH    0505 PM 01/22   KYMN

...BULLITT COUNTY...
1 NW CLERMONT                24 MPH    0400 PM 01/22   KYMN
3 ENE SHEPHERDSVILLE         20 MPH    0345 PM 01/22   CWOP

...CASEY COUNTY...
LIBERTY                      20 MPH    0642 PM 01/22   CWOP

...CLARK COUNTY...
3 NNW WINCHESTER             28 MPH    0715 PM 01/22   KYMN
RUCKERVILLE                  20 MPH    0943 PM 01/22   CWOP

...EDMONSON COUNTY...
4 ESE RHODA                  20 MPH    0812 PM 01/22   RAWS

...FAYETTE COUNTY...
LEXINGTON BLUE GRASS AIRPORT 32 MPH    0645 PM 01/22   ASOS
6 ENE KEENE                  30 MPH    0630 PM 01/22   KYMN
5 WSW LEXINGTON              22 MPH    1243 PM 01/22   CWOP

...FRANKLIN COUNTY...
FORKS OF ELKHORN             32 MPH    0945 AM 01/22   CWOP
4 ENE ALTON                  28 MPH    0220 PM 01/22   KYMN
CAPITAL CITY AIRPORT         25 MPH    0236 PM 01/22   ASOS

...GRAYSON COUNTY...
3 WSW LEITCHFIELD            29 MPH    0445 PM 01/22   KYMN
2 S MADRID                   24 MPH    0430 PM 01/22   CWOP

...HARDIN COUNTY...
1 NW FORT KNOX               32 MPH    0326 PM 01/22   AWOS
2 WNW CECILIA                31 MPH    0430 PM 01/22   KYMN
2 E RINEYVILLE               25 MPH    1057 PM 01/22   CWOP

...HARRISON COUNTY...
3 ESE BERRY                  26 MPH    0510 PM 01/22   KYMN

...JEFFERSON COUNTY...
BOWMAN FIELD AIRPORT         31 MPH    1041 PM 01/22   ASOS
LOUISVILLE INTL-STANDIFORD F 31 MPH    0313 PM 01/22   ASOS
LOUISVILLE                   24 MPH    0245 PM 01/22   CWOP
1 SE SAINT MATTHEWS          23 MPH    1035 PM 01/22   CWOP
6 ESE JEFFERSONTOWN          21 MPH    0455 PM 01/22   CWOP
PLEASURE RIDGE PAR           21 MPH    0850 PM 01/22   CWOP

...LARUE COUNTY...
2 E HODGENVILLE              27 MPH    0730 PM 01/22   KYMN

...LINCOLN COUNTY...
4 SW LANCASTER               20 MPH    0735 AM 01/22   KYMN

...MADISON COUNTY...
1 SSW WACO                   26 MPH    0735 PM 01/22   KYMN
4 NW BEREA                   23 MPH    1115 PM 01/22   AWOS

...MARION COUNTY...
2 ESE LORETTO                32 MPH    0725 AM 01/22   KYMN

...MEADE COUNTY...
3 WNW EKRON                  26 MPH    1040 PM 01/22   KYMN

...MERCER COUNTY...
2 ESE SHAKERTOWN             27 MPH    0555 PM 01/22   KYMN

...NICHOLAS COUNTY...
3 ESE MILLERSBURG            29 MPH    0705 PM 01/22   KYMN

...OHIO COUNTY...
2 E HARTFORD                 29 MPH    1015 AM 01/22   KYMN

...OLDHAM COUNTY...
1 SSW WESTPORT               29 MPH    0850 PM 01/22   KYMN
2 SSE BUCKNER                20 MPH    0957 PM 01/22   CWOP

...SCOTT COUNTY...
2 WNW OXFORD                 30 MPH    0709 PM 01/22   CWOP

...SHELBY COUNTY...
4 WNW FINCHVILLE             28 MPH    1225 PM 01/22   KYMN

...TAYLOR COUNTY...
4 N BLACK GNAT               26 MPH    0515 PM 01/22   KYMN

...WARREN COUNTY...
BOWLING GREEN-WARREN COUNTY  26 MPH    0553 PM 01/22   ASOS

OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING
EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.

Photos:

 

Damage Photo Damage Photo Damage Photo Damage Photo
Plum Springs, KY
(Amy Brumett)
Upton, KY
(Chasity Walters)
Liberty, KY
(Daniel Bell)
Horse Cave, KY
(Ed Cowan)

 

Damage Photo Damage Photo Damage Photo Damage Photo
Lexington, KY
(Scott Smith)
Garrard County, KY
(Karla Vinson)
Mintonville, KY
(Phillip Murphy)
Scottsville, KY
(Bonnie Meador)

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