Kentucky, 1997

Ice Storm in Kentucky, January 24, 1997

January 24, 1997 · NWS ILN · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A strong surge of moisture moved north into the Ohio Valley during the morning hours. Temperatures were at or just below the freezing mark for several hours while rain fell.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS ILN wrote it up.

A strong surge of moisture moved north into the Ohio Valley during the morning hours. Temperatures were at or just below the freezing mark for several hours while rain fell. Roads quickly became icy during the morning rush hour causing numerous traffic accidents. Several roads were closed due to one-quarter inch of ice accumulation.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Gallatin

When
January 24, 5:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Gallatin forecast zone
Coordinates
38.757, -84.859 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Boone

When
January 24, 5:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Boone forecast zone
Coordinates
38.970, -84.728 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Kenton

When
January 24, 5:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Kenton forecast zone
Coordinates
38.934, -84.533 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Campbell

When
January 24, 5:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Campbell forecast zone
Coordinates
38.947, -84.380 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Owen

When
January 24, 5:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Owen forecast zone
Coordinates
38.520, -84.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Grant

When
January 24, 5:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Grant forecast zone
Coordinates
38.649, -84.625 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Pendleton

When
January 24, 5:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Pendleton forecast zone
Coordinates
38.696, -84.360 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Kentucky in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, January 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5587295, 5587296, 5587297, 5587298, 5587299, 5587300, 5587301.