Winter Weather in Kentucky, January 20 to 21, 2011

Name: Winter Weather in Kentucky, January 20 to 21, 2011
Start: 2011-01-20T16:50
End: 2011-01-21T10:00
Location: Kentucky

January 20 to 21, 2011 · NWS JKL · 47 events in 29 counties and zones

A cold front began to move into the forecast area on the afternoon of January the 20th. The system was short in duration and only dropped 1 to 3 inches across the forecast area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 47 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: $31,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 47

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 cold front began to move into the forecast area on the afternoon of January the 20th. The system was short in duration and only dropped 1 to 3 inches across the forecast area.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

47 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Powell

When: January 20, 4:50 PM EST to 5:12 PM EST
Where: Powell forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.831, -83.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow starting to become slush on roadways in Stanton. Gusty winds causing issues with driving at times. Visibility in the snow was 2 miles.

Winter Weather, Pulaski

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 5:17 PM EST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.104, -84.577 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow grains were starting to accumulate in Somerset.

Winter Weather, Pulaski

When: January 20, 4:55 PM 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)

Two inches of snow had fallen in Woodstock since around 5 pm.

Winter Weather, Powell

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Powell forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.831, -83.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Eight tenths of an inch of snow had fallen in Clay City since just before 5 pm.

Winter Weather, Elliott

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 7:15 PM EST
Where: Elliott forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 38.118, -83.098 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An inch of snow had fallen in Isonville since earlier in the evening.

Winter Weather, Pulaski

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 7:12 PM EST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.104, -84.577 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Six tenths of an inch of snow had fallen in Somerset.

Winter Weather, Powell

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Powell forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.831, -83.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An inch of snow had fallen in Clay City. The size of the snow flakes was beginning to decrease.

Winter Weather, Owsley

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 8:15 PM EST
Where: Owsley forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.419, -83.683 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An inch and a half of snow had fallen in Lerose.

Winter Weather, Bath

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 8:15 PM EST
Where: Bath forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.145, -83.743 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Bath county dispatch reported that 2.5 inches of snow had fallen in Sharpsburg. Roads had become slick and hazardous county wide.

Winter Weather, Montgomery

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 8:28 PM EST
Where: Montgomery forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.034, -83.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county dispatch office reported that 2 to 3 inches of snow had fallen in Mount Sterling. Eight to ten non injury accidents had been reported since the snow began. Most of the cars were sliding off the road and into ditches.

Winter Weather, Fleming

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 8:28 PM EST
Where: Fleming forecast zone
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.370, -83.697 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county dispatch office estimated that 1.5 to 2 inches of snow had fallen in Flemingsburg. A dozen non injury accidents had been reported.

Winter Weather, Owsley

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 8:56 PM EST
Where: Owsley forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.419, -83.683 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of snow had fallen in Lerose.

Winter Weather, Wolfe

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:03 PM EST
Where: Wolfe forecast zone
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.739, -83.493 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county dispatch office estimated that an inch of snow had fallen in Campton. A couple of non injury accidents had also been reported. Dangerous road conditions existed county wide.

Winter Weather, Laurel

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:03 PM EST
Where: Laurel forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.111, -84.118 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three quarters to an inch of snow had fallen in London.

Winter Weather, Wayne

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:07 PM EST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.801, -84.829 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Wayne county dispatch reported that 1.5 to 2 inches of snow had fallen in Monticello. Dangerous driving conditions existed throughout the county. One non injury accident had been reported.

Winter Weather, Leslie

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:10 PM EST
Where: Leslie forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.094, -83.381 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county dispatch office estimated that 1 to 2 inches of snow had fallen in Hyden.

Winter Weather, Floyd

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:10 PM EST
Where: Floyd forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.557, -82.746 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county dispatch office estimated that an inch of snow fell in Prestonsburg.

Winter Weather, Clay

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:10 PM EST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.160, -83.715 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county dispatch office estimated that an inch of snow had fallen in Manchester. Secondary roads were becoming slick.

Winter Weather, Bell

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:25 PM EST
Where: Bell forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.731, -83.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county dispatch office estimated that a quarter of an inch of snow had fallen in Pineville. Secondary roads were becoming slick.

Winter Weather, Whitley

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:30 PM EST
Where: Whitley forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.758, -84.145 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county dispatch office estimated that one quarter to one half of an inch of snow had fallen in Williamsburg. Roads around the county were slick and hazardous.

Winter Weather, Magoffin

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:34 PM EST
Where: Magoffin forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.707, -83.065 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county dispatch office estimated that 3 inches of snow had fallen in Salyersville. Roads around the county were slick and hazardous.

Winter Weather, Jackson

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:34 PM EST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.420, -84.006 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county dispatch office estimated that an inch of snow had fallen in McKee and that roads were very slick.

Winter Weather, Rockcastle

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:34 PM EST
Where: Rockcastle forecast zone
Property damage: $6,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.365, -84.316 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county dispatch office estimated that 3 inches of snow had fallen in Mount Vernon. Five accidents, one with injuries, had been reported since the snow began. Roads around the county had become slick and hazardous.

Winter Weather, Menifee

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:35 PM EST
Where: Menifee forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.941, -83.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county dispatch office estimated that 1 to 1.5 inches of snow had fallen in Frenchburg. Roads around the county had become slick since the snow began.

Winter Weather, Powell

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:35 PM EST
Where: Powell forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.831, -83.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of snow had fallen in Stanton. Roads across the county were slick and hazardous.

Winter Weather, Estill

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:35 PM EST
Where: Estill forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.693, -83.964 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An inch and a half of snow had fallen in Irvine. Roads across the county had become slick and hazardous.

Winter Weather, Rowan

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:35 PM EST
Where: Rowan forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.196, -83.421 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of snow had fallen in Morehead. Roads across the county had become slick and hazardous.

Winter Weather, Johnson

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:48 PM EST
Where: Johnson forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.847, -82.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county dispatch estimated that 1.5 to 2 inches of snow had fallen in Paintsville. Roads were becoming snow covered and slick.

Winter Weather, Harlan

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:50 PM EST
Where: Harlan forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.857, -83.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The state police in Harlan reported that a skiff snow had fallen and that roads around the county were becoming slick and hazardous.

Winter Weather, Martin

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:50 PM EST
Where: Martin forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.802, -82.513 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county dispatch reported that an inch of snow had fallen in Inez. Roads in the area had become slick and hazardous.

Winter Weather, Knott

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:51 PM EST
Where: Knott forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.354, -82.954 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An inch of snow had fallen in Hindman.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 9:51 PM EST
Where: Perry forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.244, -83.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An inch of snow had fallen in Hazard.

Winter Weather, Pike

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 10:04 PM EST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 37.469, -82.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The State Highway Garage reported that an inch of snow had fallen in Pikeville. Across the county roads were partly to mostly snow covered with moderate snow making road conditions worse.

Winter Weather, Letcher

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 10:04 PM EST
Where: Letcher forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.121, -82.855 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The county sheriff reported that 0.5 to 1 inch of snow had fallen in Whitesburg and that roads were becoming slick.

Winter Weather, Harlan

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 10:15 PM EST
Where: Harlan forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 36.857, -83.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The state highway garage estimated that 3 inches of snow had fallen on Pine Mountain.

Winter Weather, Floyd

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to 10:30 PM EST
Where: Floyd forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.557, -82.746 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An NWS employee reported that 1.7 inches of snow had fallen 3 miles west southwest of Prestonsburg.

Winter Weather, Menifee

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to January 21, 7:47 AM EST
Where: Menifee forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 37.941, -83.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of snow had fallen 4 miles east of Frenchburg.

Winter Weather, Powell

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to January 21, 8:31 AM EST
Where: Powell forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.831, -83.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An inch and a half of snow had fallen in Stanton between 4 pm and midnight yesterday.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to January 21, 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)

An inch and a half of snow had fallen 1 mile south southeast of Ned.

Winter Weather, Pulaski

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to January 21, 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)

One and two tenths of an inch of snow had fallen in Somerset.

Winter Weather, Martin

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to January 21, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Martin forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.802, -82.513 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One and eight tenths of an inch of snow had fallen in Inez.

Winter Weather, Breathitt

When: January 20, 4:55 PM EST to January 21, 10:00 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 had fallen 2 miles north of Jackson.

Winter Weather, Breathitt

When: January 20, 5:30 PM EST to 8:04 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 three quarters of an inch of snow had fallen 2 miles east southeast of Talbert since 530 pm. There was a mix of snow and sleet falling around 530 pm. The precipitation changed over to all snow around 6 pm.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: January 20, 5:55 PM EST to January 21, 6:48 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 had fallen 1 mile northwest of Buckhorn.

Winter Weather, Perry

When: January 20, 5:55 PM EST to January 21, 6:48 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 had fallen 1 mile northwest of Buckhorn.

Winter Weather, Magoffin

When: January 20, 6:15 PM EST to 11:15 PM EST
Where: Magoffin forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.707, -83.065 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trained spotter measured 2 inches of new snow in the town of Emma. The accumulated between 615 pm and 1115 pm.

Winter Weather, Pike

When: January 20, 7:35 PM EST to 11:35 PM EST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.469, -82.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trained spotter measured 2.8 inches of snow at Turkey Creek between 735 and 1135 pm.

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kentucky in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Kentucky, January 2011

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: 272650, 272652, 272655, 272656, 272657, 272658, 272659, 272660, 272661, 272662, 272663, 272664, 272665, 272667, 272668, 272669, 272670, 272671, 272672, 272673, 272675, 272676, 272677, 272678, 272680, 272681, 272682, 272683, 272684, 272685, 272686, 272687, 272690, 272691, 272692, 272693, 272698, 272699, 272700, 272702, and more.