Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Kentucky, December 24 to 27, 2010

Name: Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Kentucky, December 24 to 27, 2010
Start: 2010-12-24T16:00
End: 2010-12-27T14:30
Location: Kentucky

December 24 to 27, 2010 · NWS JKL · 57 events in 17 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 57 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: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 57

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.

On December 24th, Christmas Eve, a low pressure system traversed along the Gulf Of Mexico. Moisture streamed up into the area but the Jackson CWA was spared the heavier snowfall as that occurred further east. The event was worthy of Winter Weather Advisories with a Winter Storm Warning issued for the higher elevations in Harlan and Letcher counties. A powerful east coast low pressure developed and traveled up the east coast. The fully developed low pressure system brought northerly flow into eastern Kentucky and created an extended upslope event. The event prompted the continuance of the advisories and winter storm warnings into December 27th till noon.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

56 winter weather, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: December 24, 4:00 PM EST to December 27, 8:50 AM EST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.244, -83.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

On Hall Mountain, at an elevation of 1550 feet, in the Viper area, 9.7 inches of snow had fallen since Friday. A new snow accumulation of 2.7 inches had occurred since noon on Sunday, with a snow depth of 7 inches.

Winter Weather, McCreary

When: December 24, 6:00 PM EST to December 27, 8:37 AM EST
Where: McCreary forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.737, -84.484 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Seven and a half inches of snow had fallen in Pine Knot since Friday afternoon.

Winter Weather, Letcher

When: December 24, 6:00 PM EST to December 27, 9:15 AM EST
Where: Letcher forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 37.121, -82.855 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Seven inches of snow had fallen in Thornton since Friday evening. Two inches of new snow had fallen overnight.

Winter Weather, Pike

When: December 24, 8:00 PM EST to December 25, 7:15 AM EST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.469, -82.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The running snowfall total 2 miles west of Mouthcard was 1.4 inches.

Winter Weather, Laurel

When: December 24, 8:00 PM EST to December 25, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Laurel forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.111, -84.118 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The running snowfall total 1 mile southeast of London was 2.8 inches.

Winter Weather, Morgan

When: December 24, 8:00 PM EST to December 25, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Morgan forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.922, -83.259 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The running snowfall total in Relief was 2.5 inches.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: December 24, 8:00 PM EST to December 25, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.244, -83.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The running snowfall total in Delphia is 2.9 inches.

Winter Weather, Leslie

When: December 24, 9:00 PM EST to December 26, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Leslie forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.094, -83.381 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Six inches of snow fell in Smilax over a 36 hour period.

Winter Weather, Laurel

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to 11:12 PM EST
Where: Laurel forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.111, -84.118 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two tenths of an inch of snow fell in Keavy.

Winter Weather, Morgan

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to 11:13 PM EST
Where: Morgan forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.922, -83.259 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A tenth of an inch of snow fell in West Liberty. The snow was covering the roads and was coming down heavily.

Winter Weather, Whitley

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to 11:20 PM EST
Where: Whitley forecast zone
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 36.758, -84.145 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An inch and a half of snow fell in Woodbine.

Winter Weather, Pulaski

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to 11:56 PM EST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.104, -84.577 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An inch and a half of snow fell in Somerset.

Winter Weather, Powell

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 25, 12:48 AM EST
Where: Powell forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.831, -83.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Mountain Parkway was covered in snow from Campton to Clay City. A half an inch of snow depth was reported.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 25, 9:20 AM EST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.244, -83.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An inch and a half of snow fell 2 miles north northwest of Dice.

Winter Weather, Leslie

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 25, 9:30 AM EST
Where: Leslie forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.094, -83.381 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and a half inches of snow fell in Thousandsticks.

Winter Weather, Pulaski

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 25, 10:45 AM EST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.104, -84.577 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three inches of snow fell in Ferguson.

Winter Weather, Floyd

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 25, 10:54 AM EST
Where: Floyd forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.557, -82.746 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One and four tenths of an inch of snow fell in Emma.

Winter Weather, Bell

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 1:30 AM EST
Where: Bell forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.731, -83.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Five and a half inches of snow had fallen in Fonde since Friday evening. Three inches of this snowfall occurred overnight.

Winter Weather, Pike

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 10:55 AM EST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.469, -82.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and a half inches of snow had fallen in Pikeville since Friday night.

Winter Weather, Pike

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 10:55 AM EST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.469, -82.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Five inches of snow had fallen in Hardy since Friday night.

Winter Weather, Pike

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 10:55 AM EST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.469, -82.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Five inches of snow had fallen in Virgie since Friday night.

Winter Weather, Pike

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 10:55 AM EST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.469, -82.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The total snowfall in Ashcamp since Friday night was 4.5 inches.

Winter Weather, Pike

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 10:55 AM EST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.469, -82.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and a half inches of snow had fallen in Gulnare since Friday night.

Heavy Snow, Harlan

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 12:10 PM EST
Where: Harlan forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.857, -83.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Five and a half inches of snow fell on Little Black Mountain overnight at an elevation of 3800 feet. Between 9 and 11 inches of snow had fallen since Friday night and it was snowing heavily when this report was called in.

Winter Weather, Bell

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 1:30 PM EST
Where: Bell forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.731, -83.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Five and a half inches of snow had fallen in Fonde since Friday night, with 3 inches of that having accumulated overnight.

Winter Weather, Pike

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 7:38 PM EST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.469, -82.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The storm total snowfall 4 miles southeast of Shelbiana since Friday night was 6 inches.

Winter Weather, Pulaski

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.104, -84.577 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An inch of snow had fallen 5 miles west southwest of Somerset since midnight. The storm total snowfall was 5.7 inches, with a 5 inch snow depth.

Winter Weather, Owsley

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 9:13 PM EST
Where: Owsley forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.419, -83.683 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four inches of snow had fallen in Booneville since Friday evening.

Winter Weather, Letcher

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 9:31 PM EST
Where: Letcher forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.121, -82.855 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

KJ4LOB reported that 9 inches of snow had fallen since Friday evening in Hallie.

Winter Weather, Letcher

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 9:31 PM EST
Where: Letcher forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.121, -82.855 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

N4UTG reported that 9 inches of snow had fallen in Ermine since Friday evening.

Winter Weather, Letcher

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 9:31 PM EST
Where: Letcher forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.121, -82.855 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

KK4WH reported that 9 inches of snow had fallen in Whitesburg since Friday evening.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 9:31 PM EST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.244, -83.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

K4AVX reported that 7 inches of snow had fallen in Viper since Friday evening.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 9:31 AM EST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.244, -83.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

KA4AOU reports 4 inches of snow on the ground in Rowdy.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 9:31 AM EST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.244, -83.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

KI4VJB reported that 4 inches of snow was on the ground in Hazard.

Winter Weather, Clay

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 9:31 AM EST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.160, -83.715 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

KG4SXT reported that 5 inches of snow was on the ground in Manchester.

Winter Weather, Letcher

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 9:31 AM EST
Where: Letcher forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.121, -82.855 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

N4VBV reported that 8 inches of snow was on the ground in Whitesburg.

Winter Weather, Harlan

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 9:31 AM EST
Where: Harlan forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 36.857, -83.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

AF4YJ reported that 6 inches of snow was on the ground in Baxter, at an elevation of 1200 feet.

Winter Weather, Bell

When: December 25, 12:00 AM EST to 5:55 PM EST
Where: Bell forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.731, -83.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and a half inches of snow fell in Fonde.

Winter Weather, Pike

When: December 25, 5:38 AM EST to December 26, 5:38 PM EST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.469, -82.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three and a tenth inches of snow fell in Turkey Creek over a 12 hour period. The storm total snowfall was 6.1 inches.

Winter Weather, Floyd

When: December 25, 7:00 AM EST to December 26, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Floyd forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.557, -82.746 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and on tenth of an inch of snow fell 3 miles west southwest of Prestonsburg over the past 24 hours. The storm total snowfall was 3.1 inches, with a snow depth of 3 inches.

Winter Weather, Breathitt

When: December 25, 8:46 AM EST to December 26, 8:46 AM EST
Where: Breathitt forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.522, -83.324 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and a half inches of snow fell in Jetts Creek since yesterday.

Winter Weather, Pike

When: December 25, 2:00 PM EST to December 26, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.469, -82.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three and a half inches of snow fell 8 miles north northeast of Pikville over the past 18 hours.

Winter Weather, Knott

When: December 25, 6:00 PM EST to December 26, 12:38 PM EST
Where: Knott forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.354, -82.954 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four inches of snow had fallen in Mousie since 6 pm yesterday.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: December 25, 7:00 PM EST to December 26, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.244, -83.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three and a quarter inches of snow fell in Buckhorn over a 36 hour period.

Winter Weather, Pulaski

When: December 25, 9:00 PM EST to December 26, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.104, -84.577 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An inch and a half of snow fell in Ferguson over the past 12 hours. The snow depth was 4.5 inches.

Winter Weather, Breathitt

When: December 25, 9:00 PM EST to December 26, 9:20 AM EST
Where: Breathitt forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.522, -83.324 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One and six tenths of an inch of snow fell 2 miles north of Jackson.

Winter Weather, Letcher

When: December 25, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Letcher forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.121, -82.855 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three inches of snow fell in Whitesburg overnight, with a total snow depth of 6 inches.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: December 25, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 9:50 AM EST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.244, -83.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and a half inches of snow had fallen as of 730 am, with another half inch having fallen since then.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: December 25, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 9:55 AM EST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.244, -83.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three inches of snow fell overnight in Delphia with 5 inches currently on the ground.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: December 25, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 10:55 AM EST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.244, -83.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The snow depth 2 miles north northwest of Dice was 3.5 inches.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: December 25, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 11:17 AM EST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 37.244, -83.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three inches of new snow fell overnight in Viper at an elevation of 1550 feet. The total snow depth was 7 inches.

Winter Weather, Harlan

When: December 25, 10:00 PM EST to December 26, 11:30 AM EST
Where: Harlan forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 36.857, -83.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three and a half inches of snow fell in Baxter at an elevation of 1200 feet.

Winter Weather, Pulaski

When: December 26, 12:00 AM EST to 6:52 PM EST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.104, -84.577 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An inch of new snow had fallen in Mintonville over the previous 19 hours. The storm total snowfall was 5.7 inches, with a snow depth of 5 inches.

Winter Weather, Breathitt

When: December 26, 7:00 AM EST to 7:40 PM EST
Where: Breathitt forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.522, -83.324 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One and seven tenths of an inch of snow had fallen 2 miles east southeast of Talbert since 630 am on Sunday morning. The storm total snowfall since Friday evening was 5 inches, with a snow depth of 4 inches.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: December 26, 10:40 AM EST to December 27, 10:40 AM EST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.244, -83.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four inches of new snow had fallen in Delphia during the previous 24 hours. The total snow depth was 7 inches.

Winter Weather, Pike

When: December 26, 7:00 PM EST to December 27, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.469, -82.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An inch of snow has fallen in the past 12 hours 2 miles south of Shelbiana. The snow was blowing and drifting.

Winter Weather, Floyd

When: December 27, 12:00 AM EST to 2:30 PM EST
Where: Floyd forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.557, -82.746 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and a half inches of snow fell overnight 2 miles north of Prestonsburg.

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
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 2010 Every state in 2010 This day in weather history Warnings in Kentucky, December 2010

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: 270479, 270478, 270480, 268782, 268783, 268784, 268785, 270391, 270371, 270373, 270374, 270375, 270376, 270377, 270378, 270379, 270380, 270387, 270400, 270401, 270402, 270404, 270405, 270408, 270410, 270413, 270415, 270416, 270417, 270418, 270419, 270420, 270453, 270454, 270455, 270456, 270469, 270383, 270411, 270388, and more.