An incoming front will generate showers starting later today. The morning will stay dry as clouds increase and wind ramps up a bit. These are the early signs of the incoming system. This one will pack a punch with temperatures allowing for the coldest air of the season so far. This rapid cool down will change the rain over to snow before the system departs and there will be some accumulation.
Timing on the snow will see the changeover around the mid to late evening for the Bluegrass and around midnight for the south and east counties. The Cumberland Plateau will see the changeover after midnight. Snow will fall until about 3:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. for the Bluegrass, Just before the morning commute for south and east counties, and during the commute for the counties on the Virginia state line. Amounts will generally be light (meaning less than an inch).
Most accumulation will be on grassy surfaces, melting quickly on most heavily used roads. Higher amounts between 1.50” and 2.00” will be collected in the higher terrain of the Cumberland Plateau. Use caution if getting out on the roads Tuesday morning. Roads will be slippery regardless of snow amounts. Remember that lightly trafficked areas like shoulders, medians, turn lanes, and rural roads will collect snow first and keep it longer.
One thing that will work in our favor for this event will be the *warm* temperatures experienced before the snow. Temperatures are expected to rise to 58 degrees this afternoon before the cold air arrives. Models are showing our road surfaces reaching near or above 70 degrees this afternoon. This means that the roads will take longer to drop to freezing, melting most of the snow. As of now, roads are not expected to reach 32 degrees until after midnight when most of the snow will be wrapping up. Regardless roads will be slippery. Also, keep in mind that bridges and overpasses cool more quickly and will collect snow first.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY has been issued and will be in effect from this evening through tomorrow morning for some Bluegrass counties and the eastern side of Kentucky. These counties are expected to receive enough snow to cause concern for motorists on roadways. Use caution on roads starting this evening and through midday tomorrow. Take it slow.
After the snowfall, temperatures continue to crash and remain low. We will not rise above freezing Tuesday or Wednesday morning. The afternoon high on Tuesday will be close to setting a “coolest high” temperature record. The low on Wednesday will likely tie or break the existing low temperature record of 13 degrees from 1911. Temperatures slowly climb through the rest of the week with low precipitation chances.
Temperatures will slowly rise through the end of the week with more sun and only small chances for precipitation.
