A strong upper-level trough and an intensifying coastal low off the Eastern Seaboard combined to produce a fluffy snowfall event across southeastern Kentucky from January 30th through January 31st, 2026. The system was characterized by a persistent west-to-east oriented frontogenetic snow band that developed south of the Mountain Parkway.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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 strong upper-level trough and an intensifying coastal low off the Eastern Seaboard combined to produce a fluffy snowfall event across southeastern Kentucky from January 30th through January 31st, 2026. The system was characterized by a persistent west-to-east oriented frontogenetic snow band that developed south of the Mountain Parkway. As the coastal system intensified into a powerful Nor'easter, the band pivoted and became nearly stationary along the Kentucky-Virginia border, leading to an extended period of light to moderate snowfall.
The highest accumulations were concentrated in the high terrain of Pike, Letcher, and Harlan counties, where totals reached 4.0 to 5.0 inches. Because of the extremely cold Arctic airmass in place, snow-to-liquid ratios were high, ranging from 14:1 to 19:1, resulting in a very dry, powdery snow.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Impactful snowfall reached warning criteria across portions of Pike County. At 0855EST on the 31st, the State Police Post in Coal Run estimated 4.0 inches of snow.
Snowfall was widespread across the county. A CO-OP observer at Lilley Cornett Woods (Skyline) measured 4.0 inches of snow at 0803EST on the 31st. Additionally, a CoCoRaHS observer at Mayking 1.4 ENE reported a storm total of 3.7 inches of dry, powdery snow.
Heavy snowfall impacted the county as the frontogenetic band stalled near the Virginia-Kentucky border. At 0905EST on the 31st, 911 dispatch in Nolansburg estimated 5.0 inches of snow accumulation.
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, January 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1314703, 1314704, 1314705.