This image from the NWS shows the potential for ice accumulation through early Friday morning.This is the area currently under a Winter Storm Watch through late Thursday night.
Potential for accumulations of ice rising through Thursday
Today will begin with a slight chance of light rain, or even a mix of sleet and light rain, mainly north of 68/80 and the Cumberland Parkway corridor. Little if any impact on travel is expected. This light precipitation will fade away later this morning leaving us with mainly cloudy skies. Highs will reach into the mid 40s.
Another small batch of light rain, perhaps a mix of sleet and freezing rain will fall tonight. Again, amounts and impacts look to be light. Lows will fall into the mid 30s tonight.
WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT THRU THURSDAY
In staying with my “no hype, no bull” forecasting, this is a situation that needs your attention. We are looking at 1) abundant moisture 2) warm air overrunning cold surface air 3) placement across much of Southern Kentucky to cause major impact on travel and power systems. Therefore, this is not hype, it’s the real deal.
Preparations should be made today for the possibility of widespread power outages across the SAM listening area, especially those that live along and north of the 68/80 and Cumberland Parkway corridors. The prime time this looks to happen is Wednesday night and Thursday. Amounts of sleet and freezing rain forming ice look to be anywhere from a tenth to a quarter-inch on roads, trees and power lines. While there is a small possibility it may not reach this magnitude (if enough warm air is near the ground), EVERYONE should prepare for the possibility of losing power and not being able to drive on roadways Wednesday night through Friday.
Colder air will come in following the winter storm keeping a few in the ice with little melting into the weekend. Highs will only reach into the upper 20s to mid 30s, lows will plunge into the teens and 20s!
Regardless if this system plays out exactly as stated above, YOU should be prepared for the worst, and hope for the best. If it doesn’t play out this way, count your blessings and know you are better prepared for the next one. Preparation is key!
I will have further updates today as new information comes in and possibly even a Facebook live Q&A later on. In the meantime, I will see you on the radio this morning from 6-10am at SAM 100.7
, streaming live to bowlinggreensam.com and on your devices via the TuneIn app.