Kentucky, 2015

Heavy Snow in Kentucky, January 23 to 24, 2015

January 23 to 24, 2015 · NWS LMK · 11 events in 11 counties and zones

On the 23rd of January, wrap-around moisture associated with low pressure moving through the Tennessee Valley brought a generally light mixture of rain and snow to southern Indiana and northern Kentucky. Temperatures were generally in the mid 30s.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
11

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 LMK wrote it up.

On the 23rd of January, wrap-around moisture associated with low pressure moving through the Tennessee Valley brought a generally light mixture of rain and snow to southern Indiana and northern Kentucky. Temperatures were generally in the mid 30s. By early evening, a heavier mesoscale snow band developed from central Kentucky northeast through the Bluegrass Region. Despite temperatures remaining just above freezing, snowfall rates increased to around an inch per hour through the evening hours. A swath of 3 to 6 inch accumulations developed from central Kentucky, roughly near Elizabethtown, through Lexington and the central Bluegrass.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Washington

When
January 23, 4:00 PM EST to January 24, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
37.753, -85.175 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An estimated 4 to 5 inches of snow accumulated near Willisburg.

Heavy Snow, Scott

When
January 23, 4:00 PM EST to January 24, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Scott forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
38.292, -84.584 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several people measured around 5 inches of snow near Georgetown.

Heavy Snow, Spencer

When
January 23, 4:00 PM EST to January 24, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Spencer forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
38.033, -85.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An observer measured 4 inches of snow at Taylorsville Lake.

Heavy Snow, Anderson

When
January 23, 4:00 PM EST to January 24, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Anderson forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
38.004, -84.991 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Around 4 inches of snow accumulated near Lawrenceburg.

Heavy Snow, Jessamine

When
January 23, 4:00 PM EST to January 24, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Jessamine forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
37.872, -84.581 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Around 5 inches of snow fell near Nicholasville.

Heavy Snow, Hardin

When
January 23, 4:00 PM EST to January 24, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Hardin forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
37.698, -85.963 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Around 6 inches of snow was measured by several people around Elizabethtown and Rineyville.

Heavy Snow, Bullitt

When
January 23, 4:00 PM EST to January 24, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Bullitt forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
37.970, -85.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Around 5 inches of snow fell near Clermont.

Heavy Snow, Nelson

When
January 23, 4:00 PM EST to January 24, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Nelson forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
37.805, -85.466 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Around 5 inches of snow fell in Deatsville.

Heavy Snow, Boyle

When
January 23, 5:00 PM EST to January 24, 2:00 AM EST
Where
Boyle forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
37.624, -84.867 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An observer measured 5 inches of snow early on the 24th.

Heavy Snow, Grayson

When
January 23, 4:00 PM CST to January 24, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Grayson forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
37.461, -86.344 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Around 6 inches of snow fell northeast of Clarkson. Another person measured 4 inches of snow near Leitchfield.

Heavy Snow, Clark

When
January 23, 5:00 PM EST to January 24, 2:00 AM EST
Where
Clark forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
37.971, -84.147 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Between 4 and 6 inches of snow fell across Clark County. Five inches was measured near Winchester.

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

More

Every storm in Kentucky in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, January 2015

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: 550559, 550565, 550566, 550567, 550569, 550570, 550572, 550573, 550563, 550564, 550574.