A strong low pressure system brought heavy, wet snow to portions of Eastern Kentucky on the evening of December 11th. The snow occurred as colder air moved in behind the departing storm system.
Every event with a place to put it; 9 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS JKL wrote it up.
A strong low pressure system brought heavy, wet snow to portions of Eastern Kentucky on the evening of December 11th. The snow occurred as colder air moved in behind the departing storm system. Earlier in the day, rain, and some freezing rain, fell across the area. A quick change to snow occurred in the evening. The heavy wet snow stuck to trees, weighing them down and causing many to snap.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Jackson, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 11, 6:52 PM EST, 1 hour 8 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 652 PM EST THU DEC 11 2008 .SHORT TERM.../TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/ DRY SLOT HAS WORKED INTO MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA WITH THE SOLID PRECIP SHIELD SHIFTING TO OUR NORTH. HAVE ALLOWED THE WSW FOR FREEZING RAIN IN THE NORTH TO EXPIRE...SINCE MOST PRECIP HAS MOVED OUT FOR THE TIME BEING...AND A CHANGEOVER TO SNOW IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING. SNOW SHOULD NOT BE ENOUGH THERE TO WARRANT AN ADVISORY. DEFORMATION ZONE/WRAP AROUND PRECIP ON BACK SIDE OF THE STORM SYSTEM WILL AFFECT THE REGION DURING THE NIGHT...ESPECIALLY THE SE PART OF THE AREA. COLDER AIR ARRIVING FROM THE NORTH IS DISPLACING THE VERY WARM ELEVATED LAYER WHICH WAS PRESENT DURING THE DAY. THIS WILL BRING THE CHANGE TO SNOW QUICKLY SE TO THE VA BORDER BY ABOUT 8 PM. THIS WILL ALLOW UP TO A COUPLE OF INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION... ESPECIALLY OVER HIGH TERRAIN WHERE FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARRIVE FIRST. A WSW FOR SNOW HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR BELL TO JOHNSON COUNTY SOUTHEASTWARD FROM 6 PM TO 6 AM TONIGHT. MOISTURE IS EXPECTED TO LINGER AT LOW LEVELS BENEATH AN INVERSION ON FRIDAY...LIKELY RESULTING IN CLOUDINESS. ALTHOUGH...THE CLOUDS SHOULD BEGIN TO ERODE DURING THE DAY...ESPECIALLY IN THE WEST. .LONG TERM.../FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/ THE PERIOD SHOULD START OFF QUIET WITH HIGH PRESSURE IN CONTROL. THE HIGH WILL DRIFT EAST TO THE ATLANTIC COAST OVER THE WEEKEND. COULD BE SOME MID LEVEL CLOUDS MOVING THROUGH LATE SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT WITH A VERY WEAK H5 WAVE. THE NEXT CHANCE FOR PRECIP SHOULD ARRIVE MONDAY...AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. GENERALLY WENT CLOSER TO THE GFS ENSEMBLES...WHICH HAD GOOD AGREEMENT WITH HPC GUIDANCE. THE FRONT SHOULD SLIDE THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO STALL JUST TO OUR SOUTH...WITH WAVES OF LOW PRESSURE MOVING ALONG IT FROM TIME TO TIME. IMPOSSIBLE TO TIME EACH WAVE AS IT MOVES ALONG THE FRONT...SO ENDED UP WITH A PROLONGED PERIOD OF CHANCE POPS. FOLLOWING THE ENSEMBLE TEMPERATURES...COULD BE SOME SNOW MIXING IN AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY NORTH OF THE HAL ROGERS PARKWAY...FROM TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. OPERATIONAL RUNS OF THE ECMWF AND GFS ARE LESS FAVORABLE FOR THIS...BUT PREFER THE SLIGHTLY COOLER ENSEMBLES. && .AVIATION.../00Z TO 24Z/...UPDATED LIGHT RAIN...WITH A FEW POCKETS OF FREEZING RAIN PERSISTS ACROSS THE AREA THIS EVENING...WITH WIDESPREAD IFR TO LIFR CONDITIONS. A SURFACE LOW IS CURRENTLY MOVING THROUGH EASTERN TN. TEMPORARY FLOW AROUND FROM THE WARM SECTOR OF THE LOW HAS ALLOWED FOR A SMALL BIT OF WARM AIR ADVECTION ACROSS THE AREA. TEMPERATURES HAVE RISEN ABOUT A DEGREE OR TWO OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS. HOWEVER...AS THE LOW PASSES TO OUR EAST OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS...COLDER AIR WILL BE PULLED BACK INTO THE AREA CHANGING ANY PRECIPITATION TO SNOW. EXPECT GENERALLY IFR TO LIFR CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE AS THE CHANGEOVER OCCURS...AND SOME PATCHY -FZDZ IS POSSIBLE AS SNOW TAPERS OFF DURING THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD. MOST OF THE PRECIP SHOULD BE DONE BY FRIDAY MORNING...WITH LOW CIGS IN THE IFR RANGE LINGERING INTO EARLY AFTERNOON. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY FOR KYZ087-088-107- 109-110-112-113-115-117>120. && SHORT TERM...HAL LONG TERM....WJM AVIATION...WJM/RAY
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 501 PM EST THU DEC 11 2008 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-104-106-108-111-114-116-121200- FLEMING-MONTGOMERY-BATH-ROWAN-ESTILL-POWELL-MENIFEE-ROCKCASTLE- JACKSON-ELLIOTT-MORGAN-WOLFE-LEE-OWSLEY-CLAY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FLEMINGSBURG...MOUNT STERLING... OWINGSVILLE...MOREHEAD...IRVINE...STANTON...FRENCHBURG... MOUNT VERNON...MCKEE...SANDY HOOK...WEST LIBERTY...CAMPTON... BEATTYVILLE...BOONEVILLE...MANCHESTER 501 PM EST THU DEC 11 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. SNOW WILL FALL AT MOST LOCATIONS...BUT ANY ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD BE AN INCH OR LESS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE AT TIMES TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. KYZ087-088-107-109-110-112-113-115-117>120-121200- BELL-HARLAN-JOHNSON-MAGOFFIN-FLOYD-BREATHITT-KNOTT-PERRY-LESLIE- LETCHER-MARTIN-PIKE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MIDDLESBORO...PINEVILLE...HARLAN... PAINTSVILLE...SALYERSVILLE...PRESTONSBURG...JACKSON...HINDMAN... HAZARD...HYDEN...WHITESBURG...INEZ...PIKEVILLE 501 PM EST THU DEC 11 2008 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. SNOW IS EXPECTED TONIGHT...WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO TWO INCHES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE AT TIMES TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS TONIGHT. KYZ079-080-083>086-121200- PULASKI-LAUREL-WAYNE-MCCREARY-WHITLEY-KNOX- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SOMERSET...LONDON...MONTICELLO... WHITLEY CITY...CORBIN...WILLIAMSBURG...BARBOURVILLE 501 PM EST THU DEC 11 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. SNOW IS LIKELY TONIGHT BUT ANY ACCUMULATION SHOULD BE AN INCH OR LESS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. HAL
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 246 PM EST THU DEC 11 2008 KYZ058-068-069-079-080-083>088-106>120-112300- ESTILL-ROCKCASTLE-JACKSON-PULASKI-LAUREL-WAYNE-MCCREARY-WHITLEY-KNOX- BELL-HARLAN-MORGAN-JOHNSON-WOLFE-MAGOFFIN-FLOYD-LEE-BREATHITT-KNOTT- OWSLEY-PERRY-CLAY-LESLIE-LETCHER-MARTIN-PIKE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...IRVINE...MOUNT VERNON...MCKEE...SOMERSET... LONDON...MONTICELLO...WHITLEY CITY...CORBIN...WILLIAMSBURG... BARBOURVILLE...MIDDLESBORO...PINEVILLE...HARLAN...WEST LIBERTY... PAINTSVILLE...CAMPTON...SALYERSVILLE...PRESTONSBURG...BEATTYVILLE... JACKSON...HINDMAN...BOONEVILLE...HAZARD...MANCHESTER...HYDEN... WHITESBURG...INEZ...PIKEVILLE 246 PM EST THU DEC 11 2008 RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO FALL AT TIMES THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WITH A LAYER OF COLDER AIR WORKING INTO THE REGION AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS. AS A RESULT...RAIN HAS BEGUN TO FREEZE ON RAISED SURFACES AT ELEVATIONS ABOVE 1500 FEET NEAR THE MOUNTAIN PARKWAY AND ELEVATIONS ABOVE 2500 FEET NEAR THE TENNESSEE AND VIRGINIA BORDER COUNTIES. THESE ELEVATIONS ARE BASED ON REPORTS RECEIVED BY COUNTY DISPATCH CENTERS AND COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS. EXPECT RAIN TO BEGIN CHANGING OVER TO SNOW LATE THIS AFTERNOON NORTH OF THE MOUNTAIN PARKWAY...THEN CHANGING OVER LATER THE FARTHER SOUTH YOU GET. ICE IS MORE LIKELY TO ACCUMULATE ON ELEVATED SURFACES... ALTHOUGH A SLICK SPOT OR TWO ON THE ROADWAYS CANNOT BE RULED OUT. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. FOR MORE INFORMATION...VISIT OUR INTERNET WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/JACKSONKY. SCHOETTMER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 541 PM EST THU DEC 11 2008 KYZ052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>086-104-106-108-111-114-116- 121000- ROWAN-ESTILL-POWELL-MENIFEE-ROCKCASTLE-JACKSON-PULASKI-LAUREL-WAYNE- MCCREARY-WHITLEY-KNOX-ELLIOTT-MORGAN-WOLFE-LEE-OWSLEY-CLAY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MOREHEAD...IRVINE...STANTON...FRENCHBURG... MOUNT VERNON...MCKEE...SOMERSET...LONDON...MONTICELLO... WHITLEY CITY...CORBIN...WILLIAMSBURG...BARBOURVILLE...SANDY HOOK... WEST LIBERTY...CAMPTON...BEATTYVILLE...BOONEVILLE...MANCHESTER 541 PM EST THU DEC 11 2008 SNOW HAS STARTED TO MIX IN WITH RAIN AND WILL CHANGE OVER TO ALL SNOW BY 8 PM. UP TO ONE INCH OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE WITH THE GREATEST AMOUNTS EXPECTED AT ELEVATED LOCATIONS. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO END DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. INITIALLY...SNOW WILL MAINLY STICK ON GRASSY AREAS AND ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. AS THE EVENING PROGRESSES...IT MAY CAUSE SOME SLICK SPOTS ON UNTREATED ROADWAYS. MOTORIST SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION AS ROAD CONDITIONS COULD VARY...ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UP HILL. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. FOR MORE INFORMATION...VISIT OUR INTERNET WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/JACKSONKY. JJ
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
738 PM EST THU DEC 11 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0639 PM FLASH FLOOD GORDON 37.00N 83.02W
12/11/2008 LETCHER KY LAW ENFORCEMENT
STATE POLICE REPORTED THAT THE GORDON FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD
AT LEAST 6 INCHES OF RUNNING WATER OVER THE HIGHWAY AT
17786 HIGHWAY 160.
0725 PM FLASH FLOOD COLSON 37.23N 82.86W
12/11/2008 LETCHER KY LAW ENFORCEMENT
KENTUCKY STATE POLICE REPORTED 6 TO 8 INCHES OF RUNNING
WATER OVER HIGHWAY 7 NORTH NEAR APPLE TREE BRANCH.
&&
RAYThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Seven inches of snow was measured in Rogers. Most of the snow fell in a 3 hour period. Hundreds of trees were downed across the county by the heavy snow. Power was out at many locations through December 12th due to downed power lines.
Over six inches of snow fell across Lee County during a three hour period. Trees were downed county-wide and power was out for as long as two days due to downed power lines.
At least four inches of snow fell in northern Owsley County near the Lee County border.
A trained spotter measured four inches of snow near Irvine.
Four inches of snow was measured in Annville.
Around four inches of snow fell near the Wolfe County line along highway 15.
Four inches of snow was measured near Salyersville.
Four inches of snow was measured in Gimlet.
Four inches of snow was measured near West Liberty.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, December 2008
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: 141263, 141264, 141265, 141259, 141260, 141267, 141266, 141261, 141262.