Widespread freezing rain lead to an ice storm across eastern Kentucky on February 10th and 11th, 2021. Many locations experienced power outages due to ice laden trees and tree limbs falling onto and/or downing power lines.
Every event with a place to put it; 36 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.
Widespread freezing rain lead to an ice storm across eastern Kentucky on February 10th and 11th, 2021. Many locations experienced power outages due to ice laden trees and tree limbs falling onto and/or downing power lines. Ice accumulations ranged from as little as a tenth of an inch to as much as half an inch. The hardest hit areas were generally along and north of the Mountain Parkway.
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 Feb 10, 1:25 AM EST, 3 hours 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED National Weather Service Jackson KY 125 AM EST Wed Feb 10 2021 .UPDATE... Issued at 100 AM EST WED FEB 10 2021 Did a quick update to the grids during this lull before the storm. This mainly entailed adding the latest obs and trends into the T/Td grids. We will be watching the incoming light pcpn in the northwest later in the shift and also monitoring the wetbulbing potential for the JKL CWA as the event starts to unfold to our west towards dawn. The updates have been sent to the NDFD and web servers. UPDATE Issued at 1141 PM EST TUE FEB 9 2021 Currently, a blanket of low clouds covers the forecast area, while high pressure centered over Illinois is helping to provide light northeast flow. Temperatures lie in the low to mid 30s for most areas, with only the far south hanging on to the 40s. The main change for this update was to adjust PoPs to better incorporate the faster trends seen in the guidance. This brings the eastern edge of the better precip beginning to arrive in our area around 10/11z. This update mainly involved precip timing, with no major changes made to forecast amounts. Updates were sent and fresh zones were generated. UPDATE Issued at 805 PM EST TUE FEB 9 2021 Overall, the going forecast remains largely on track. A frontal boundary sits just south of the Kentucky line over the Appalachians. Behind this boundary, mostly cloudy to cloudy skies overspread the area. A temperature gradient has set up with mid 30s in our north and 40s further south, with the highest temps in the southwest. Some fog has started to develop in some of our high terrain in the southeast. So, edited the wx grids to include mention of fog through the night. Otherwise, the main edits were to incorporate the latest obs. Updates were sent and new zones were generated to include the mention of fog. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday night) Issued at 408 PM EST TUE FEB 9 2021 A messy short term period is in store, with a mixed precip event getting underway and lasting into the long term period. A cold front was over extreme southern and southeastern KY late this afternoon, and will transition across the Appalachians tonight and settle to our south as a stationary front. An overrunning scenario will then set up as our upstream flow aloft buckles due to an amplifying trough moving east along the Mexican border. This eventually strengthens a downstream anticyclonic upper level jet, with our area being in the favored lift area of the right entrance region. Models are in general agreement for the event, but temperatures will be critical, with a very small variation making a significant difference in our outcome. Low level saturation is expected to deepen late tonight and Wednesday, starting in our southern counties, and shifting to our northern counties during the day Wednesday. Forecast soundings look supportive of drizzle or very light rain, with surface temperature determining if it will be freezing (glazing) precip. The moist layer then grows deeper by evening, and expands over the southern portion of the forecast area during Wednesday night, with precip rates picking up as a result. Based on blended temperatures and the POP, the main threat of freezing precip initially looks to be north of KJKL on Wednesday, with the main effects being on travel due to the initially light amounts. As precip rates increase on Wednesday night, the colder air and a change to freezing rain will also creep southward, and snow and/or sleet will begin to mix in in our northern counties. With early coordination needed for LMK today, headlines were issued early. This includes an Ice Storm warning for most of the area. The exceptions are for no headlines in Bell and Harlan counties, and a Winter Weather Advisory near/north of I-64. For locations where the warning starts on Thursday, the headline timing is due to possible travel effects, with the threat of downed limbs and power outages due to heavier icing not being until at least Wednesday night as precip rates increase. .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Tuesday) Issued at 343 PM EST TUE FEB 9 2021 While light precipitation will be ongoing at the start of the period, A better slug of moisture will arrive by late morning with precipitation rates increasing through the day. With freezing temperatures continuing to sag southward through the day, it looks like the threat for freezing rain will materialize and really hammer areas along the Hal Rogers Parkway through Thursday evening. Still looks like some better threat for snow farther north (north of the Mountain Parkway). That should cut down on ice potential on Thursday to the north. For this reason, opted to only go with a winter weather advisory in the far north as criteria for warning will not be met for ice or snow. The better potential for icing to the south will be covered by the ice storm warning. All of this looks to exit by Thursday night, with more tranquil weather arriving on Friday beneath increasing heights aloft. This quite weather is short lived as another disturbance pushes across the area Saturday into Sunday. This system could bring another round of wintry precipitation to the area. Still some uncertainty on precipitation type, but it appears all precipitation types will be in play again. Uncertainty really increases into next week as some models try to bring the arctic air to the north southward, while others keep the baroclinic zone more stationed across our area. If the baroclinic zone remains nearby, the active weather could continue into next week. If the arctic weather takes hold, that could bring a brief lull in our weather. Either way, both could have impacts on the area and will be worth monitoring going forward. For now, stayed very close to the model blend from Sunday onward. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Wednesday night) ISSUED AT 125 AM EST WED FEB 10 2021 Mainly MVFR cigs will be the rule for the first few hours of this TAF cycle before the moistening atmosphere develops lower cloud decks over eastern Kentucky into dawn to IFR levels for most sites. Some light precip should also be working its way into the area later this morning. Areas around KJKL and northward will likely see this precip in the form of freezing rain thanks to the wetbulbing effect on sfc temperatures and a warm layer aloft. The precip will be accompanied by some even lower cigs and is expected to continue through the remainder of the TAF period with MVFR or lower vis, as well. Winds will be mainly light and variable through the rest of the night and the day on Wednesday. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from 7 AM this morning to 7 PM EST Thursday for KYZ044-050>052. Ice Storm Warning from 7 AM this morning to 7 PM EST Thursday for KYZ058>060-104-106>109-111. Ice Storm Warning from 1 AM Thursday to 7 AM EST Friday for KYZ068-069-079-080-083>086-110-112>120. && UPDATE...GREIF SHORT TERM...HAL LONG TERM...KAS AVIATION...GREIF
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson KY 400 AM EST Wed Feb 10 2021 KYZ044-050>052-111200- Fleming-Montgomery-Bath-Rowan- Including the cities of Flemingsburg, Camargo, Jeffersonville, Mount Sterling, Owingsville, and Morehead 400 AM EST Wed Feb 10 2021 ...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EST THURSDAY... This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Significant icing is expected today and tonight. See the ice storm warning for more information. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Wintry precipitation will be ongoing on Thursday. Additional ice accumulations due to freezing rain are expected, with a potential for sleet and light snow accumulations on Thursday. Another round of wintry weather will be possible Saturday into Sunday morning. Snow, freezing rain, and sleet will again be possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is requested for winter reports through Friday. KYZ104-106>109-111-112-114-111200- Elliott-Morgan-Johnson-Wolfe-Magoffin-Lee-Breathitt-Owsley- Including the cities of Sandy Hook, West Liberty, Paintsville, Campton, Salyersville, Beattyville, Jackson, and Booneville 400 AM EST Wed Feb 10 2021 ...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 AM EST FRIDAY... This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Significant icing is expected today and tonight. See the ice storm warning product for more information. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Wintry precipitation will be ongoing on Thursday and continue into Friday morning. Additional ice accumulations due to freezing rain are expected along with a touch of sleet or snow. Another round of wintry weather will be possible Saturday into Sunday morning. Snow, freezing rain, and sleet will again be possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is requested for winter reports through Friday. KYZ080-084>087-110-113-115>117-119-120-111200- Laurel-McCreary-Whitley-Knox-Bell-Floyd-Knott-Perry-Clay-Leslie- Martin-Pike- Including the cities of London, Stearns, Whitley City, Corbin, Williamsburg, Barbourville, Middlesboro, Pineville, Prestonsburg, Wheelwright, Hindman, Pippa Passes, Hazard, Manchester, Hyden, Inez, Coal Run, Elkhorn City, Pikeville, and South Williamson 400 AM EST Wed Feb 10 2021 ...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM THURSDAY TO 7 AM EST FRIDAY... This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Significant icing is expected to develop tonight. See the ice storm warning product for more information. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Wintry precipitation will be ongoing on Thursday and continue into Friday morning. Additional ice accumulations due to freezing rain are expected. Another round of wintry weather will be possible Saturday into Sunday morning. Snow, freezing rain, and sleet will again be possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is requested for winter reports through Friday. KYZ058>060-068-069-079-083-111200- Estill-Powell-Menifee-Rockcastle-Jackson-Pulaski-Wayne- Including the cities of Irvine, Ravenna, Clay City, Stanton, Frenchburg, Brodhead, Mount Vernon, McKee, Annville, Burnside, Somerset, and Monticello 400 AM EST Wed Feb 10 2021 ...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EST THURSDAY... This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Significant icing is expected today and tonight. See the ice storm warning for more information. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Wintry precipitation will be ongoing on Thursday. Additional ice accumulations due to freezing rain are expected. Another round of wintry weather will be possible Saturday into Sunday morning. Snow, freezing rain, and sleet will again be possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is requested for winter reports through Friday. KYZ088-118-111200- Harlan-Letcher- Including the cities of Cumberland, Harlan, Jenkins, and Whitesburg 400 AM EST Wed Feb 10 2021 ...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM THURSDAY TO 7 AM EST FRIDAY... This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Significant icing is expected to develop tonight. See the ice storm warning product for more information. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Wintry precipitation will be ongoing on Thursday and continue into Friday morning. Additional ice accumulations due to freezing rain are expected. Another round of wintry weather will be possible Saturday into Sunday morning. Snow, freezing rain, and sleet will again be possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is requested for winter reports through Friday. GREIF/AR
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
32 ice storm, 4 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Two to three tenths of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred in the higher elevations of the county. The valley areas experienced up to a tenth of an inch of ice accumulation.
An NWS employee reported that he had lost power at his home due to tree limbs falling onto power lines near his home. At least a quarter of an inch of ice accumulation had occurred, and freezing rain was ongoing at time of report.
Four tenths of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred in Flemingsburg. The weight of the ice brought down trees around the county.
Three tenths of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred near Owingsville.
Ice accumulation due to freezing rain on area roadways caused several car accidents around the county. Heavy ice accumulation also brought down numerous trees across the county.
A heavy accumulation of ice due to freezing rain brought down trees all over the county.
Heavy accumulations of ice due to freezing rain brought down numerous trees across the county, some of which fell onto residences.
As much as half an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred in parts of Menifee county, including near Mariba.
A quarter of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred in Sandy Hook.
Heavy ice accumulations due to freezing rain brought down multiple trees onto Highway 7 near Pomp.
Heavy ice accumulations due to freezing rain downed trees on Highway's 172 and 650 near Lenox.
A quarter of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred in West Liberty.
A quarter of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred on tress and power lines at the higher elevations of Floyd county, including at Allen. Much less ice accumulation occurred in the valleys.
Heavy accumulations of ice from freezing rain brought down trees along Highway 11 in Powell county, at the 25 MM. The trees fell onto and brought down phone and power lines in that same area. Freezing rain was ongoing at time of report.
Three tenths of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred near Stanton.
Heavy ice accumulation due to freezing rain brought down a large tree onto Highway 615 around mile marker 1. The tree knocked down some power lines.
At least a quarter of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred, especially in the northwestern part of the county.
Heavy ice accumulations due to freezing rain brought down trees along KY 1886 near Sam.
Heavy ice accumulations due to freezing rain brought down trees along KY 499 near Witt.
A quarter of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred near Koomer Ridge Camp.
A tenth to a quarter of an inch of ice accumulations due to freezing rain had occurred in the northern part of the county. Only a trace of ice accumulation occurred in the southern part of the county.
At least half an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred in the northeast part of Lee county, including at Zoe.
A quarter of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred near Bradley. The ice lead to slick conditions on area roadways.
A quarter of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred near Inez.
A tree was brought down due to ice accretion from freezing rain and gusty winds on Highway 25 in Mount Vernon. The tree was blocking part of the road.
Half an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred near Rockford.
Three tenths of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred near Hiatt.
The State Highway Dept reported that one half to three quarters of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred across northern parts of the county.
Two tenths of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred on ridgetops around the county.
A tenth of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred.
Two tenths of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred near Clover Bottom.
Very little if any ice accumulation due to freezing rain occurred in the valleys, but a quarter of an inch of ice accumulation was estimated to have occurred on the trees on the tops of ridges around the county. Multiple trees around the county were downed due to the weight of ice on them.
A quarter of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred on ridgetops around the county. A few trees were brought down due to the weight of ice on them in parts of the county.
A tenth of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred in Willow Tree.
The highway garage indicated that two tenths of an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain had occurred in most valley locations, but that three tenths of an inch accumulation had occurred on the ridgetops within the county. The freezing rain fell yesterday afternoon and evening.
Some of the ridgetops in the southern part of the county had at least half an inch of ice accumulation due to freezing rain, and possibly more.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, February 2021
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: 934105, 934073, 934088, 934086, 934087, 934082, 934083, 934090, 934091, 934092, 934093, 934095, 934107, 934072, 934089, 934102, 934098, 934099, 934100, 934094, 934097, 934104, 934096, 934108, 934074, 934084, 934085, 934101, 934113, 934106, 934075, 934110, 934112, 934103, 934109, 934111.