A prolonged period of wintry weather impacted eastern Kentucky from February 22 into February 24, 2026, as a deep upper-level trough over the eastern United States funneled a moist, modified polar airmass into the region. This setup established a persistent northwesterly upslope flow regime, resulting in scattered to numerous snow showers.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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.
A prolonged period of wintry weather impacted eastern Kentucky from February 22 into February 24, 2026, as a deep upper-level trough over the eastern United States funneled a moist, modified polar airmass into the region. This setup established a persistent northwesterly upslope flow regime, resulting in scattered to numerous snow showers. These showers were frequently cellular in nature and produced squall-like conditions at some locations.
Accumulations varied significantly across the region due to the convective and orographic nature of the event. While many locations near and west of Pottsville Escarpment saw only a dusting to an inch, higher terrain in the southeast experienced much more substantial totals. The heaviest totals were generally concentrated near the Pine and Black Mountains in the far east, where persistent upslope forcing maximized snowfall. However, isolated similarly heavy swaths were also noted upstream of these higher mountains over portions of Lee and Owsley counties, where convective snow bands persisted for extended periods. Despite high snow-to-liquid ratios of 15:1 to 40:1 for most locations, leading to dry, fluffy snow, the intensity of the showers caused slick and hazardous travel conditions on untreated roads.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Significant convective snowfall was noted upstream of the higher terrain. A CoCoRaHS observer located 3.6 miles east-northeast of Booneville measured a storm total of 4.1 inches of snow by the morning of the 24th.
An isolated, heavy swath of snow developed upstream of the main eastern Kentucky mountain ranges. A trained spotter and retired NWS employee at Belle Point measured a storm total of 6.5 inches of snow by 0930EST on the 23rd. A CO-OP observer 4 miles north of Beattyville recorded 2.6 inches during the same event.
Heavy snow impacted portions of the county, particularly in eastern and high-elevation sections. The KYTC maintenance garage in Canada estimated an event total of 4.0 inches, as did the garage in Phelps. High points along KY-194 between Phelps and Biggs saw estimated totals reach 6.0 inches. A public report from Mouthcard measured 6.5 inches of snow by 1730EST on the 23rd, while a estimate of 4.0 inches was reported two miles south of McAndrews. In the lower elevations over southwestern portions of the county, KYTC estimated only 0.5 inches at Shelbiana and 1.5 inches at Dorton along US-119.
Orographic enhancement resulted in significant totals along the high ridges. KYTC estimated 6.0 inches of snow on top of Pine Mountain along both US-119 (Oven Fork) and along US-23 at the Virginia state line (2,360 feet elevation). The Mayking 1.4 ENE Cocorahs station measured 3.1 inches, while a CO-OP observer in Skyline measured 1.5 inches. Only 1.5 inches was estimated by the local highway garage in the valleys near Colly.
Upslope snow was most significant along the ridges. Law enforcement estimated 4.0 inches of snow on top of Pine Mountain along US-421 at approximately 2,600 feet elevation. Big Black Mountain received an estimated 2.5 inches of accumulation, as per KYTC. Meanwhile, in the lower valleys, the local KSP Post at Harlan reported an estimated 2.0 inches. A member of the public at Lynch measured 2.0 inches and and emergency manager estimated 3.0 inches at Coldiron.
Significant snow showers persisted through the 23rd. A 911 call center report from a residence along KY-2058 near Spruce Pine an estimated 7.0 inches of snow. In Hyden, 3.0 inches of accumulation was estimated, while an estimated 1.5 inches was reported from Wooton. A CoCoRaHS observer in Stinnett measured 2.6 inches by the morning of the 24th.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, February 2026
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: 1319905, 1319904, 1319906, 1319907, 1319908, 1319909.