Heavy Snow in Kentucky, February 3 to 6, 1998

Name: Heavy Snow in Kentucky, February 3 to 6, 1998
Start: 1998-02-03T18:00
End: 1998-02-06T11:00
Location: Kentucky

February 3 to 6, 1998 · NWS JKL · 33 events in 33 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 33 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 2
Injuries: 1
Property damage: $10 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 33

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 JKL wrote it up.

A major snowstorm affected eastern Kentucky from the evening of February 3 into the morning of February 6. Snowfall totals for the storm ranged from around 4 inches in valley locations near the Virginia border to as much as 2 feet in areas from Whitley City to Flemingsburg. The greatest snowfalls during the storm occurred in two distinct periods. The first round of heavy snow, which affected nearly all of eastern Kentucky, began during the evening of February 3, and extended into February 4. Heavy snow tapered off during the night of February 4-5, but redeveloped again during the afternoon of February 5 and extended into the early morning of February 6. This second round of heavy snow mainly affected the northern half of eastern Kentucky.The first round of heavy snow resulted in a general 10 to 18 inches in areas along and west of a line from Williamsburg to Morehead, with amounts decreasing to around 4 inches in valley locations near the Virginia border. The second round of heavy snow brought 4 inches or more to areas generally along and north of a line from Irvine to Phelps. The second round of heavy snow resulted in as much as 10 inches in areas from Frenchburg to near Flemingsburg. The first round of heavy snow was extremely wet, with snow to water ratios around 6 to 1. The snow to water ratio was about 10 to 1 during the second round of heavy snow.In most areas the greatest snow depths occurred on February 6. Some snow depths reported on February 6: Wallingford 25 inches; Frenchburg 24 inches; Stearns 23 inches; Mt. Sterling 22 inches; Owingsville 20 inches; London 19 inches; Campton 16 inches; Flemingsburg, Stanton, and Mt Vernon -15 inches; Morehead, Monticello, Sandy Hook, and McKee - 14 inches; Somerset 12 inches; Irvine, West Liberty, and NWSO Jackson -11 inches; Williamsburg, Manchester, Salyersville, and Booneville - 10 inches; Beattyville and Inez - 8 inches; Paintsville 7 inches; Prestonsburg 6 inches; Raccoon and Majestic - 5 inches; Hindman, Barbourville, Hyden and Skyline- 4 inches. At NWSO Jackson 17.6 inches of snow fell from February 3 to February 6, with the maximum depth of 11 inches occurring on February 6. The greatest 24 hour amount recorded at NWSO Jackson during the storm was 9.7 inches from February 3 to February 4.Because of the extremely wet nature of the snow, damage from this storm was extensive. The most widespread damage occurred in a swath of the Daniel Boone National Forest from Whitley City to Frenchburg. Power outages were widespread as falling trees brought down power lines and poles. Power outages affected 100% of the electric customers in many counties. As many as 9000 customers were still without power on February 9, and some areas were without power for 2 weeks. Numerous roads were blocked by trees, and bulldozers had to be used to reach people who were stranded. There were numerous buildings which collapsed under the weight of the snow, including trailer homes, houses, barns, and commercial buildings. One industrial building near Monticello sustained $1.5 million in damage when the roof collapsed, and machinery and stock were damaged.Many people remained in unheated homes during the extended power outages. A woman in McCreary County died in her home as a result of a hypothermia induced heart attack, and a man in Wolfe County died from hypothermia in his home. One man in McCreary County was injured when a carport collapsed on him.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

33 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Bath

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Bath forecast zone
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $10 million
Coordinates: 38.145, -83.743 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Bell

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Bell forecast zone
Coordinates: 36.731, -83.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Breathitt

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Breathitt forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.522, -83.324 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Clay

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.160, -83.715 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Elliott

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Elliott forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.118, -83.098 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Estill

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Estill forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.693, -83.964 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Fleming

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Fleming forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.370, -83.697 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Floyd

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Floyd forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.557, -82.746 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Harlan

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Harlan forecast zone
Coordinates: 36.857, -83.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Jackson

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.420, -84.006 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Johnson

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Johnson forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.847, -82.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Knott

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Knott forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.354, -82.954 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Knox

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Knox forecast zone
Coordinates: 36.891, -83.854 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Laurel

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Laurel forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.111, -84.118 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Lee

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Lee forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.595, -83.716 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Leslie

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Leslie forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.094, -83.381 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Letcher

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Letcher forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.121, -82.855 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Magoffin

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Magoffin forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.707, -83.065 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Martin

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Martin forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.802, -82.513 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, McCreary

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: McCreary forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 36.737, -84.484 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Menifee

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Menifee forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.941, -83.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Montgomery

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Montgomery forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.034, -83.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Morgan

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Morgan forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.922, -83.259 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Owsley

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Owsley forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.419, -83.683 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Perry

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.244, -83.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Pike

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.469, -82.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Powell

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Powell forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.831, -83.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Pulaski

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.104, -84.577 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Rockcastle

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Rockcastle forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.365, -84.316 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Rowan

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Rowan forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.196, -83.421 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wayne

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Coordinates: 36.801, -84.829 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Whitley

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Whitley forecast zone
Coordinates: 36.758, -84.145 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wolfe

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST to February 6, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Wolfe forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 37.739, -83.493 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Heavy Snow, McCreary	1998-02-04	75	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Heavy Snow, Wolfe	1998-02-09	55	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kentucky in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Kentucky, February 1998

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5635316, 5635317, 5635318, 5635319, 5635320, 5635321, 5635322, 5635323, 5635324, 5635325, 5635326, 5635327, 5635328, 5635329, 5635330, 5635331, 5635332, 5635333, 5635334, 5635335, 5635336, 5635337, 5635338, 5635339, 5635340, 5635341, 5635342, 5635343, 5635344, 5635345, 5635346, 5635347, 5635348.