Past Conditions

Following a warm December, chilly temperatures and winter weather has been prevalent over the course of January! That was no different this past week with ANOTHER winter storm progressing across the region on Sunday. Impacts were predominantly across the eastern half of the state. Unlike previous events, precipitation actually started as a wintry mix with freezing rain and sleet seen across the region. Luckily, any icing was primarily relegated to elevated objects. As winds turned to the northwest that afternoon, cooler air transitioned precipitation over to snow. In addition to another light round of snowfall on Monday morning, most ended up between 2 and 6 inches across the eastern half of Kentucky (National Weather Service maps below). This event accounted for the brunt of the precipitation for the week as the state precipitation average (liquid equivalent) only totaled a quarter inch. 

As a side-note, it seems the snowfall pattern has been a bit backwards this year compared to our friends to our north. Below is a look at a map from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center showing the percent of normal snowfall across the Midwest region since October 1. While portions of Southcentral KY have seen 200-400% of normal snowfall, our friends in Central Indiana haven’t seen much of anything! 

Going along with the wintry trend we’ve seen in January; we have another round of snowfall in the forecast this evening (1/19) and overnight across the Bluegrass State. Instead of writing my usual narrative, I decided to take a different route and make a video forecast (see below). 

If you’re not a fan of snow and cold temperatures, let’s look on the bright side and take a ‘glass half full’ attitude…we are officially over halfway through meteorological winter!

Related News from UK and Beyond

December tornadoes prompt diligence in managing cattle after severe weather - Aimee Nielson, UK Ag Communications, January 11, 2022

UK Corn and Soybean Newsletter, January 2022 Edition - January 12, 2022

Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Handbook - Cheryl Kaiser, Plant Pathology Extension Support, and Nicole Gauthier, UK Extension Plant Pathology Specialist, Kentucky Pest News, January 11, 2022