Winter Weather in Kentucky, February 23 to 24, 2022

Name: Winter Weather in Kentucky, February 23 to 24, 2022
Start: 2022-02-23T16:00
End: 2022-02-24T06:00
Location: Kentucky

February 23 to 24, 2022 · NWS PAH · 22 events in 22 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 22 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: 1
Injuries: 5
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 22

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 PAH wrote it up.

Widespread sleet and freezing rain occurred during the evening of the 23rd, followed by some patchy freezing drizzle or light rain overnight. A heavier round of precipitation on the 24th had little if any impact due to temperatures inching just above freezing. Sleet accumulations were under one-half inch, and ice accumulations were mainly one-tenth inch or less. The wintry precipitation on the evening of the 23rd caused hazardous travel during the evening commute. A rash of accidents was reported during the evening. Shortly before midnight, a fatal multi-vehicle crash blocked all lanes of Interstate 24 on the Tennessee River bridge at the Marshall-Livingston County line. |The crash site involved a total of eleven vehicles, including eight semi trucks. There were also some secondary crashes in this area. One fatality was reported, a one-year-old female toddler who was ejected from a truck (indirect). There were several injuries in the wrecks. During the early morning hours on the 24th, a multi-vehicle crash blocked all lanes of the Western Kentucky Parkway at the Green River bridge between Muhlenberg and Ohio Counties. About a dozen vehicles were involved, including four semi trucks. Both the eastbound and westbound lanes were blocked at the crash site. The wintry precipitation was caused by a moist southwest flow aloft, associated with a 500 mb trough over the western Plains. At the same time, surface high pressure advancing from the northern Plains produced a cold northerly surface wind. The cold low levels enabled the precipitation to stay freezing rain and sleet.

What forecasters said that day

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 Paducah, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 23, 1:09 PM CST, 2 hours 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 23, 1:09 PM CST, 2 hours 51 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
109 PM CST Wed Feb 23 2022

.SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Thursday night)
Issued at 109 PM CST Wed Feb 23 2022

Winter weather event is upon us, with precipitation spreading
across southeast Missouri. Not much change to the forecast
overall. It will quickly spread northeast across the rest of the
area through the late day and early evening hours. Still looking
at most notable ice accumulations SEMO into far west KY tonight,
with a secondary focus from the Ozark Foothills into southwest
Illinois Thursday. We expanded an Advisory to include the EVV Tri-
State area and more of west KY. Also expanded the Winter Storm
warning slightly to the east. Temperatures are staying in line
with the colder guidance. As the precipitation develops, we will
also likely "wet-bulb" down a few degrees, adding to the concern.
Our methods calculate one-quarter to one-half inch of ice in the
warning area. Most accumulations should be closer to one-quarter
of an inch. The area of greatest concern and one-half inch
accretion will be from near the Missouri Bootheel region into far
west Kentucky just east of the MS River and down toward the TN
border.

Thursday, as temperatures rise, we will see a transition to mainly
rain except for the far NW reaches of our CWFA, where some icing
will likely continue. We may also see locally heavy rain and some
lightning across west KY Thursday. The precipitation will wind
down from west to east Thursday night, ending as a light wintry
mix.

.LONG TERM...(Friday through Wednesday)
Issued at 109 PM CST Wed Feb 23 2022

Friday through Sunday should be mainly dry. The NBM continues to
show a small chance of wintry precipitation across our southern
counties Saturday night. Not sure this is going to pan out.
Otherwise we will transition to a quasi WNW flow pattern, with
little in the way of precipitation expected. We will monitor a
potential mid week system. After a chilly Friday and Saturday,
temperatures will moderate through the first part of next week.

&&

.AVIATION...
Issued at 109 PM CST Wed Feb 23 2022

Conditions will continue to deteriorate this afternoon with
widespread MVFR cigs replaced by mixed wintry precipitation this
evening, and lowering cigs, with IFR conditions expected at
times. Similar conditions will continue overnight, with the
heaviest precipitation across west Kentucky. Thursday morning, the
precipitation should switch over to mainly rain most places as
temperatures rise above freezing. NNE winds to continue 5 to 15
kts with some higher gusts at times.

&&

.PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IL...Winter Storm Warning until 6 PM CST Thursday for ILZ075-080-081-
     084-085-088>094.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 6 PM CST
     Thursday for ILZ076>078-082-083-086-087.

MO...Winter Storm Warning until 6 PM CST Thursday for MOZ076-086-087-
     100-107>112-114.

IN...Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 6 PM CST
     Thursday for INZ081-082-085>088.

KY...Winter Storm Warning until 6 PM CST Thursday for KYZ001>011-013.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 6 PM CST
     Thursday for KYZ014>016-018.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 23, 12:10 PM CST, 3 hours 50 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Paducah KY
1210 PM CST Wed Feb 23 2022

ILZ075>078-080>094-INZ081-082-085>088-KYZ001>022-MOZ076-086-087-
100-107>112-114-241015-
Jefferson-Wayne IL-Edwards-Wabash-Perry IL-Franklin-Hamilton-
White-Jackson-Williamson-Saline-Gallatin-Union-Johnson-Pope-
Hardin-Alexander-Pulaski-Massac-Gibson-Pike-Posey-Vanderburgh-
Warrick-Spencer-Fulton-Hickman-Carlisle-Ballard-McCracken-Graves-
Livingston-Marshall-Calloway-Crittenden-Lyon-Trigg-Caldwell-
Union KY-Webster-Hopkins-Christian-Henderson-Daviess-McLean-
Muhlenberg-Todd-Perry MO-Bollinger-Cape Girardeau-Wayne MO-Carter-
Ripley-Butler-Stoddard-Scott-Mississippi-New Madrid-
1210 PM CST Wed Feb 23 2022

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern
Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast
Missouri.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

A Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisory are in effect for
most of the area tonight. Refer to the warning and statement for
details.

River flooding continues. Refer to the warnings and statements for
details.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

The Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisory continue
through Thursday afternoon. Refer to the Warning and Advisory for
details.

Heavy precipitation may result in additional minor flooding,
primarily across west Kentucky. 1 to 2 inches of rain is possible in
West Kentucky. There may be some rumbles of thunder as well on
Thursday.

River flooding is expected to continue for at least a week for
some river locations. Refer to the warnings and statements for
details.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter reports of winter weather are appreciated.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 23, 2:20 PM CST, 1 hour 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
220 PM CST WED FEB 23 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0215 PM     FREEZING RAIN    DUDLEY                  36.79N 90.09W
02/23/2022  E0.00 INCH       STODDARD           MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LIGHT FREEZING RAIN HAS BEGUN, AND IS
            FREEZING TO SOME SURFACES AT GROUND LEVEL.
            TEMP 27 DEGREES.

&&

RST

Local storm report, Feb 23, 3:23 PM CST, 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
323 PM CST WED FEB 23 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0215 PM     SLEET            5 NNW OXLY              36.66N 90.71W
02/23/2022  M0.1 INCH        RIPLEY             MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            GROUND AND ROOFS ALMOST WHITE WITH SLEET.
            METAL BIRD FEEDERS HAVE ONE INCH PLUS
            ICICLES. CURRENT CONDITIONS, LIGHT TO
            OCCASIONALLY MODERATE FREEZING RAIN MIXED
            WITH SLEET. TEMPERATURE 26.3.

&&

DWS

Local storm report, Feb 23, 3:52 PM CST, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
352 PM CST WED FEB 23 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0351 PM     SLEET            EAST PRAIRIE            36.78N 89.38W
02/23/2022  M0.3 INCH        MISSISSIPPI        MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SLEET ACCUMULATION BEGINNING ON ROADS.

&&

DWS

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

22 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Ballard

When: February 23, 4:00 PM CST to February 24, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Ballard forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.058, -88.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Carlisle

When: February 23, 4:00 PM CST to February 24, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Carlisle forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.853, -88.971 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Hickman

When: February 23, 4:00 PM CST to February 24, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Hickman forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.678, -88.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Fulton

When: February 23, 4:00 PM CST to February 24, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Fulton forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.554, -89.188 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Graves

When: February 23, 4:00 PM CST to February 24, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Graves forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.723, -88.651 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, McCracken

When: February 23, 4:00 PM CST to February 24, 6:00 AM CST
Where: McCracken forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.054, -88.713 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Livingston

When: February 23, 5:00 PM CST to February 24, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Livingston forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.210, -88.354 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Marshall

When: February 23, 5:00 PM CST to February 24, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Injuries: 0 direct, 5 indirect
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.884, -88.329 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Calloway

When: February 23, 5:00 PM CST to February 24, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Calloway forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.621, -88.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Crittenden

When: February 23, 5:00 PM CST to February 24, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Crittenden forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.353, -88.097 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Lyon

When: February 23, 5:00 PM CST to February 24, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Lyon forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.019, -88.083 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Caldwell

When: February 23, 5:00 PM CST to February 24, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Caldwell forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.145, -87.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Trigg

When: February 23, 5:00 PM CST to February 24, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Trigg forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.806, -87.873 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Christian

When: February 23, 6:00 PM CST to February 24, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Christian forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.894, -87.490 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Todd

When: February 23, 6:00 PM CST to February 24, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Todd forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.836, -87.179 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Muhlenberg

When: February 23, 6:00 PM CST to February 24, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Muhlenberg forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.216, -87.142 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Hopkins

When: February 23, 6:00 PM CST to February 24, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Hopkins forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.309, -87.541 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Webster

When: February 23, 6:00 PM CST to February 24, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.518, -87.683 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, McLean

When: February 23, 6:00 PM CST to February 24, 5:00 AM CST
Where: McLean forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.529, -87.264 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Henderson

When: February 23, 6:00 PM CST to February 24, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Henderson forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.796, -87.573 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Union

When: February 23, 6:00 PM CST to February 24, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.659, -87.945 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Daviess

When: February 23, 7:00 PM CST to February 24, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Daviess forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.732, -87.087 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Winter Weather, Marshall	2022-02-23	1	Female	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Indirect

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 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in Kentucky, February 2022

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: 1002129, 1002130, 1002131, 1002132, 1002133, 1002134, 1002135, 1002136, 1002137, 1002138, 1002139, 1002140, 1002141, 1002142, 1002143, 1002144, 1002145, 1002146, 1002147, 1002148, 1002149, 1002151.