Two systems, one tracking through the Ohio Valley and another moving across the southern Appalachians combined to bring snow and wintry precipitation to eastern Kentucky from shortly after midnight through the mid morning hours on Tuesday December 10th. The heaviest totals received were from Pike and Letcher counties where as much as 3 to 4 inches was reported.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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.
Two systems, one tracking through the Ohio Valley and another moving across the southern Appalachians combined to bring snow and wintry precipitation to eastern Kentucky from shortly after midnight through the mid morning hours on Tuesday December 10th. The heaviest totals received were from Pike and Letcher counties where as much as 3 to 4 inches was reported.
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 9, 9:39 PM EST, 3 hours 6 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 939 PM EST MON DEC 9 2013 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 930 PM EST MON DEC 9 2013 GRIDS HAVE BEEN UPDATED THROUGH THE EVENING FOR HOURLY OBSERVATION TRENDS. THIS LED TO NO SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES FROM THE PREVIOUS FORECAST SO FAR. LOOKING AT THE RECENT HRRR RUNS AND THE 18Z AND 0Z NAM DATA IT LOOKS LIKE AS THE PRECIPITATION ARRIVES...ISENTROPIC LIFT WILL BE ENHANCED NEAR THE VA BORDER...SO OPTED TO INCREASE POPS NORTHEAST ALONG THE VA BORDER SLIGHTLY FASTER THAN THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. THE 0Z NAM QPF IS GREATER THAN THE 18Z NAM RUN AND HAS TRENDED UPWARD TOWARD THE 12Z AND 18Z GFS QPF SOLUTIONS. QPF HAS BEEN TRENDED UPWARD IN THE GRIDS TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS AS WELL AS SNOW AMOUNTS IN SOME LOCATIONS. ALONG OR TO THE SOUTH OF A LINE FROM WILLIAMSBURG TO HYDEN TO PRESTONSBURG TO INEZ...THE QPF IN THE 0Z NAM AND 12Z AND 18Z GFS POINT TOWARD ENOUGH QPF TO POSSIBLY GET 4 INCHES OR MORE OF SNOW IF PRECIPITATION WERE TO ALL FALL AS SNOW. AS YOU MOVE FAR ENOUGH SOUTHEAST OF THAT LINE...THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH OF A WARM NOSE AT THE ONSET FOR SOME SLEET TO CUT BACK ON POTENTIAL SNOW AMOUNTS AND THIS AREA WILL HAVE WARMER GROUND INITIALLY. THAT SAME AREA EXPERIENCED WARMER TEMPS ON MONDAY AFTERNOON THAN THE REST OF THE REGION. THESE FACTORS SHOULD KEEP THE SNOWFALL IN CHECK IN THIS MORE SOUTHEASTERN REGION...BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR. AS IT STANDS NOW...IT APPEARS THAT THE HIGHER AMOUNTS SHOULD OCCUR ABOVE 2000 FEET AND NEAR A WILLIAMSBURG TO BARBOURVILLE TO HYDEN TO PRESTONSBURG TO INEZ LINE. THIS SCENARIO WOULD AFFECT PARTS OF INTERSTATE 75...THE HAL ROGERS PARKWAY AND KY HIGHWAY 80 CORRIDOR AS WELL AS PORTIONS OF US 23. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 435 PM EST MON DEC 9 2013 20Z SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS THE ARCTIC BOUNDARY HOLDING ON JUST TO OUR SOUTHEAST AWAITING THE NEXT WAVE OF PCPN TO MOVE UP ALONG IT FROM THE SOUTH. LOW CLOUDS ARE FOUND THROUGH MOST OF EAST KENTUCKY WITH JUST SOME SMALL BREAKS RIGHT ALONG THE SPINE OF THE APPALACHIANS. UNDER THESE AND CLOSER TO THE FRONT...TEMPERATURES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MILDER THAN THE REST OF THE AREA. AS A RESULT...READINGS RANGE FROM THE MID AND UPPER 40S NEAR VIRGINIA TO THE LOW 30S NORTH OF INTERSTATE 64. DEWPOINTS...MEANWHILE...ARE IN THE UPPER 20S NORTHWEST TO LOWER 40S IN THE FAR SOUTHEAST. THE MODELS REMAIN IN SOME FLUX...STILL AT THIS LATE HOUR...REGARDING THE TANDEM MID LEVEL WAVES THAT WILL CROSS THE OHIO VALLEY ON TUESDAY. THE SOUTHERN ONE WILL HAVE THE MOST IMPACT ON THE AREA LATER TONIGHT BUT MAY NOT COMPLETELY PHASE WITH THE CLIPPER COMING IN FROM THE NORTH. BECAUSE OF THIS...THE RESULTING WEATHER HAS BEEN SHIFTING IN THE MODEL SOLUTIONS WITH EACH RUN. REGARDLESS...THE COMBINED TROUGH WILL SWEEP THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY AND CENTRAL APPALACHIANS BY 00Z WEDNESDAY WITH FAST...FLAT FLOW TO FOLLOW. A GENERAL MODEL BLEND WAS USED FOR THE FORECAST WITH THE 12Z NAM AND GFS TAKING THE LEAD... ALTHOUGH THE HRRR WAS ALSO INCLUDED FOR THE PCPN ONSET AND TYPE EARLY. SENSIBLE WEATHER WILL FEATURE A QUICK HIT OF PCPN AS THE LAST SFC WAVE MOVES NORTHEAST ALONG THE TIGHTENING ARCTIC BOUNDARY JUST TO OUR SOUTHEAST. EXPECT THE PCPN TO MOVE BACK IN AROUND MIDNIGHT STARTING ALONG THE TENNESSEE BORDER IN THE FAR SOUTHWEST AND QUICKLY SPREADING NORTHEAST WITH TIME. THE LATEST MODELS ARE TARGETING THE SOUTHEAST 2/3RDS OF THE CWA FOR A QUARTER INCH OR SO OF QPF AND LIGHTER AMOUNTS TAPERING QUICKLY TO THE NORTHWEST. THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THIS HYBRID CLIPPER/WAVE WILL LIKELY HAVE HIGHER SNOW RATIOS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LESSER QPF THERE. ACROSS THE FAR SOUTHEAST...THERE WILL BE A BETTER CHANCE OF SLEET MIXING IN WITH THE SNOW AT THE ONSET SO HAVE CUT THE SNOW AMOUNTS IN THIS AREA. THE SNOW WILL LIKELY COME DOWN QUICK FOR SEVERAL HOURS ACROSS THE AREA RIGHT BEFORE THE MORNING-SCHOOL COMMUTE. ACCORDINGLY...WE HAVE HOISTED A WSW FROM MIDNIGHT THROUGH THE MORNING ACROSS THE AREA...LINGERING THE ADVISORY IN THE FAR SOUTHEAST THROUGH MID AFTERNOON TUESDAY. THE SNOW PULLS AWAY QUICKLY AND DRIER AIR BEHIND THE FINALLY DEPARTING ARCTIC BOUNDARY WILL CLEAR THE SKY AND POPS SETTING THE STAGE FOR A VERY COLD NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. USED THE CONSSHORT TO BASE THE TEMPS AND TD ON THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY... CONSALL THEREAFTER...WHILE ALLOWING THE DIURNAL FROM THE NAM12 TO GUIDE THE HOURLY TEMPS THROUGH THE SHORT TERM...TOO. BCCONSSHORT WAS USED AS A STARTING POINT FOR WINDS THROUGH 18Z AND THE BCCONSALL AFTER THAT. AS FOR POPS...ENDED UP CLOSEST TO THE SLIGHTLY HIGHER MET NUMBERS ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY AND BASICALLY KEPT THINGS DRY ON TUESDAY NIGHT. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 257 PM EST MON DEC 9 2013 MODELS ARE IN REASONABLE AGREEMENT THROUGH THE WEEK AND INTO THE UPCOMING WEEKEND WITH ONLY SOME SMALL DIFFERENCES. CONFIDENCE IS INCREASING AROUND THE UPCOMING STORM FOR FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL FINALLY MAKE A RETURN FOR WEDNESDAY WITH A FULL DAY OF SUNSHINE. A FAST MOVING VORT MAX WILL TEMPORARILY SUPPRESS THE HIGH TO THE SOUTH AS IT PUSHES A COLD FRONT ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY. MOISTURE REMAINS VERY LIMITED WITH THIS FEATURE AND AT BEST A PERIOD OF FLURRIES COULD OCCUR. HIGH PRESSURE WILL REBUILD OVER THE AREA FROM THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY. A SHARP MID LEVEL TROUGH WILL EJECT OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY...WITH A SURFACE LOW TRACKING ACROSS THE REGION. RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THE TRACK SHOULD TAKE IT RIGHT OVER SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY WITH THE WARM SECTOR SURGING INTO THE AREA LATE FRIDAY NIGHT. WHILE A PERIOD OF SNOW/SLEET MAY BE POSSIBLE AT THE ONSET...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTH...WE SHOULD SEE A QUICK TRANSITION OVER TO ALL RAIN. RAIN WILL CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY. AS THE SYSTEM DEPARTS...COLD AIR WILL WRAP BACK INTO EASTERN KENTUCKY WITH PRECIPITATION CHANGING OVER TO SNOW SATURDAY NIGHT. AT THIS TIME...MOISTURE AND LIFT APPEARS TO BE FAIRLY LIMITED WITH UPSLOPE FLOW...SO ANY ACCUMULATIONS WILL LIKELY BE SMALL AND MAYBE CONFINED TO JUST THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. DRIER...BUT COLDER WEATHER WILL THEN BE SEEN INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY EVENING) ISSUED AT 815 PM EST MON DEC 9 2013 CONFIDENCE IN THE DETAILS OF SNOW DEVELOPING ACROSS THE AREA OVERNIGHT HAS INCREASED WITH BETTER MODEL AGREEMENT...AND ALL SNOW IS ANTICIPATED AT THE TAF SITES. ACCORDINGLY...HAVE CONTINUED WITH A PERIOD OF LOW CIGS...AND VIS AT THE TAF SITES STARTING BETWEEN 6Z TO 9Z THROUGH ABOUT 13Z TO 16Z. MVFR CIGS ARE EXPECTED DURING THE FIRST 6 HOURS OF THE PERIOD...WITH IFR DURING THE PERIOD OF SNOW FALLING AND POSSIBLE AT LEAST BRIEF DROPS BELOW AIRPORT MINS DURING THE HEAVIEST SNOW. WINDS WILL BE WEST TO NORTHWEST THROUGH THE PERIOD AT 5 TO 10 KTS...BUT DURING ANY HEAVIER BOUTS OF SNOW THERE MAY BE A BRIEF PICK UP WITH GUSTS TO 15 KTS OR SO. CIGS SHOULD IMPROVE BACK TO MVFR BETWEEN 13Z AND 17Z AND THEN TO VFR LATE IN THE PERIOD AT ALL THE TAF SITES. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON EST TUESDAY FOR KYZ044- 050>052. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 2 PM EST TUESDAY FOR KYZ058>060- 068-069-079-080-083-084-104-106>109-111-112-114. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM EST TUESDAY FOR KYZ085>088- 110-113-115>120. && UPDATE...JP SHORT TERM...GREIF LONG TERM...KAS AVIATION...JP
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY 343 PM EST MON DEC 9 2013 KYZ044-050>052-110000- FLEMING-MONTGOMERY-BATH-ROWAN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FLEMINGSBURG...MOUNT STERLING... OWINGSVILLE...MOREHEAD 343 PM EST MON DEC 9 2013 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON EST TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA OVERNIGHT AS A WAVE OF LOW PRESSURE MOVES THROUGH THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. WHILE THE EXACT TRACK OF THIS SYSTEM IS STILL NOT CERTAIN AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THAT BETWEEN 1 AND 2 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION WILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. SNOW IS EXPECTED TUESDAY MORNING. SOME ADDITIONAL LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE FROM THIS. A BRIEF PERIOD OF SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT. SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE AGAIN FROM SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL IN ANY SNOWFALL REPORTS TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY. KYZ058>060-068-069-079-080-083-084-104-106>109-111-112-114-110000- ESTILL-POWELL-MENIFEE-ROCKCASTLE-JACKSON-PULASKI-LAUREL-WAYNE- MCCREARY-ELLIOTT-MORGAN-JOHNSON-WOLFE-MAGOFFIN-LEE-BREATHITT-OWSLEY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...IRVINE...STANTON...FRENCHBURG... MOUNT VERNON...MCKEE...SOMERSET...LONDON...MONTICELLO... WHITLEY CITY...SANDY HOOK...WEST LIBERTY...PAINTSVILLE...CAMPTON... SALYERSVILLE...BEATTYVILLE...JACKSON...BOONEVILLE 343 PM EST MON DEC 9 2013 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 2 PM EST TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA OVERNIGHT AS A WAVE OF LOW PRESSURE MOVES THROUGH THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. WHILE THE EXACT TRACK OF THIS SYSTEM IS STILL NOT CERTAIN AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THAT BETWEEN 1 AND 3 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION WILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. SNOW IS EXPECTED INTO TUESDAY AFTERNOON. SOME ADDITIONAL LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE FROM THIS. A BRIEF PERIOD OF SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT. SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE AGAIN FROM SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL IN ANY SNOWFALL REPORTS TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY. KYZ085>088-110-113-115>120-110000- WHITLEY-KNOX-BELL-HARLAN-FLOYD-KNOTT-PERRY-CLAY-LESLIE-LETCHER- MARTIN-PIKE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CORBIN...WILLIAMSBURG...BARBOURVILLE... MIDDLESBORO...PINEVILLE...HARLAN...PRESTONSBURG...HINDMAN...HAZARD... MANCHESTER...HYDEN...WHITESBURG...INEZ...PIKEVILLE 343 PM EST MON DEC 9 2013 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 4 PM EST TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. SNOW...AND A TOUCH OF SLEET...IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA OVERNIGHT AS A WAVE OF LOW PRESSURE MOVES THROUGH THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. WHILE THE EXACT TRACK OF THIS SYSTEM IS STILL NOT CERTAIN AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THAT BETWEEN 1 AND 3 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATION WILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. SNOW IS EXPECTED INTO TUESDAY AFTERNOON. SOME ADDITIONAL LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE FROM THIS. A BRIEF PERIOD OF SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT. SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE AGAIN FROM SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL IN ANY SNOWFALL OR SLEET REPORTS TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. GREIF/KAS
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Trained spotters reported around four inches of snow fell in the Kimper and Dorton areas of Pike County. Elsewhere, two to three inches were common.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, December 2013
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: 491473.