Possible winter weather event this weekend…

It might be a good idea for all of us in the central Kentucky area to start watching the weather forecasts, and preparing for some fun conditions this weekend. WKYT’s Chris Bailey writes:

The GFS raw numbers for Sunday give Lexington a high of 33… Covington 28… Ashland 34 and Jackson 36. All locations start out as snow… go to sleet and freezing rain and a touch of rain for all areas except Covington then back to snow Sunday Night. Snow showers and squalls then would continue early next week as arctic air moves into the state. Regardless of what this low does in terms of snow for us… I am excited for next week and the potential for several snow producing clippers to drop in.

Now, before anyone attacks me for posting bad info, or attacks the poor weatherman for forecasting an event which may/may not take place, please read this disclaimer:

Now… as always… I want to get one point across. I AM BREAKING DOWN A MODEL AND THIS IS NOT A SPECIFIC FORECAST! It is waaaaaaay to early to get specific on a situation like this.

One thing is certain, though — it’ll be cold and wet.
So, regardless of whether we are slammed with anything, it’d still be a good idea to go ahead and prepare. Keep your vehicle’s gas tank full, throw a few blankets in the car, make sure you have your bread and milk at home, and go ahead and dig that shovel and salt out of the corner of the garage.
…and now, for the shameless plug. Over at the EMA site, HarrisonEMA.com, I have a few tips on winter weather preparedness. FEMA also has some nice information, as does the National Weather Service.


Short Term Forecast – Harrison (Kentucky)

OCCASIONAL FLURRIES WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA INTO THIS
AFTERNOON. FLURRIES MAY MIX WITH SPRINKLES…SLEET OR ICE PELLETS AT
TIMES THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON. ACCUMULATION OF WINTER
PRECIPITATION IS NOT EXPECTED TODAY.
IN ADDITION TO OCCASIONAL WINTER PRECIPITATION…GUSTY NORTHWEST
WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH…WITH GUSTS OVER 30 MPH WILL CONTINUE
THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON. THESE WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH COLDER
TEMPERATURES TO PRODUCE WIND CHILL VALUES AT AND BELOW 30 DEGREES
AT TIMES.
GUSTY WINDS AND COLD WIND CHILL VALUES CAN BE EXPECTED UNTIL WINDS
DIMINISH EARLY THIS EVENING…THOUGH COLD TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN
IN PLACE THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.
$$
Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage

Short Term Forecast – Harrison (Kentucky)

FRANKFORT…GEORGETOWN…CYNTHIANA…
LAWRENCEBURG…VERSAILLES…LEXINGTON…PARIS…CARLISLE…
HARRODSBURG…NICHOLASVILLE…WINCHESTER…LANCASTER…RICHMOND
911 AM EST THU NOV 15 2007
.NOW…
A MIX OF LIGHT RAIN…SLEET AND ICE PELLETS HAS BEEN REPORTED AT
LEXINGTON. THIS LIGHT WINTRY MIX WILL SPORADICALLY CONTINUE AT
LEXINGTON AND THE REST OF THE BLUEGRASS REGION THROUGH THE LATE
MORNING HOURS. THIS MIXED PRECIPITATION WILL NOT ACCUMULATE NOR AFFECT
VISIBILITIES.
$$
JSD
Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage

This is Winter Weather Preparedness Week in Kentucky!

November 11-17, 2007 is Kentucky Winter Weather Awareness Week

The Kentucky Weather Preparedness Committee (KWPC) has designated November 11-17, 2007 as Winter Weather Awareness Week in Kentucky.  The KWPC is a public/private partnership of weather-conscious government agencies at the Federal, State and local level, as well as the commercial broadcast industry.

The goal of Winter Weather Awareness Week is to increase Kentuckians’ awareness of the weather hazards that face the Commonwealth each winter.  As with all hazardous situations, the time to prepare for winter weather is before Mother Nature’s fury is bearing down upon the state, not when Warnings and Advisories are being posted. By taking the time to consider the dangers of winter weather – and prepare for them – you can reduce your risk of harm from extreme cold, heavy snow, and icy roads that are possible over the next several months.

Throughout the week, information will be posted on National Weather Service web pages serving Kentucky, highlighting suggested preparedness activities, safety tips, and useful forecast and warning information. In addition to the daily messages, you can obtain useful safety and preparedness information at the following web sites:

         Kentucky Division of Emergency Management

         Kentucky Travel Cabinet’s 511 Traffic and Travel Information

         American Red Cross Preparedness

         NWS Winter Weather Safety and Awareness

         FEMA Disaster Preparedness

         Winter weather terminology for Kentucky
As always, your latest, most up-to-date forecast from you local National Weather Service office – no matter where you live – is available at weather.gov

Freeze Warning – Harrison (Kentucky)

FIRST WIDESPREAD FROST AND POSSIBLE FREEZE OF THE SEASON
MONDAY MORNING…
.CHILLY CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE WILL CENTER ITSELF OVER THE OHIO
VALLEY BY MONDAY MORNING. THIS COOL AIR MASS WILL BRING WITH IT
SOME OF THE COLDEST AIR OF THE SEASON SO FAR.
INZ079-KYZ032>043-045>049-054>057-064>067-076>078-081-082-282345-
/O.CON.KLMK.FZ.W.0007.071029T0600Z-071029T1400Z/
JEFFERSON IN-TRIMBLE KY-HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY-SCOTT KY-
HARRISON KY-SPENCER KY-ANDERSON KY-WOODFORD KY-FAYETTE KY-
BOURBON KY-NICHOLAS KY-NELSON KY-WASHINGTON KY-MERCER KY-
JESSAMINE KY-CLARK KY-MARION KY-BOYLE KY-GARRARD KY-MADISON KY-
GREEN KY-TAYLOR KY-CASEY KY-LINCOLN KY-METCALFE KY-ADAIR KY-
RUSSELL KY-CUMBERLAND KY-CLINTON KY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…MADISON…BEDFORD…NEW CASTLE…
SHELBYVILLE…FRANKFORT…GEORGETOWN…CYNTHIANA…TAYLORSVILLE…
LAWRENCEBURG…VERSAILLES…LEXINGTON…PARIS…CARLISLE…
BARDSTOWN…SPRINGFIELD…HARRODSBURG…NICHOLASVILLE…
WINCHESTER…LEBANON…DANVILLE…LANCASTER…RICHMOND…
GREENSBURG…CAMPBELLSVILLE…LIBERTY…STANFORD…EDMONTON…
COLUMBIA…JAMESTOWN…BURKESVILLE…ALBANY
1140 AM EDT SUN OCT 28 2007 /1040 AM CDT SUN OCT 28 2007/
…FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM EDT /1 AM CDT/ TO
10 AM EDT /9 AM CDT/ MONDAY…
A FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM EDT /1 AM CDT/ TO
10 AM EDT /9 AM CDT/ MONDAY.
COLD HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING CHILLY TEMPERATURES TO THE AREA
MONDAY MORNING. AREAS OF FROST CAN BE EXPECTED AS TEMPERATURES
ARE FORECAST TO FALL BELOW 32 DEGREES FOR A FEW HOURS MONDAY
MORNING.
FREEZING TEMPERATURES CAN DAMAGE OR KILL SENSITIVE VEGETATION.
POTTED PLANTS NORMALLY LEFT OUTDOORS SHOULD BE COVERED OR BROUGHT
INSIDE AWAY FROM THE COLD.
$$
Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

ORANGE IN-WASHINGTON IN-SCOTT IN- JEFFERSON IN-DUBOIS IN- CRAWFORD IN- PERRY IN-HARRISON IN-FLOYD IN-CLARK IN- HANCOCK KY- BRECKINRIDGE KY-MEADE KY- OHIO KY-GRAYSON KY-HARDIN KY-BULLITT KY- JEFFERSON KY-OLDHAM KY-TRIMBLE KY- HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY- SCOTT KY-HARRISON KY-SPENCER KY-ANDERSON KY- WOODFORD KY- FAYETTE KY-BOURBON KY- NICHOLAS KY-NELSON KY-WASHINGTON KY- MERCER KY-JESSAMINE KY-CLARK KY-LARUE KY-MARION KY-BOYLE KY- GARRARD KY- MADISON KY-BUTLER KY-EDMONSON KY-HART KY-GREEN KY- TAYLOR KY-CASEY KY- LINCOLN KY-LOGAN KY-WARREN KY-SIMPSON KY- ALLEN KY-BARREN KY-MONROE KY- METCALFE KY-ADAIR KY-RUSSELL KY- CUMBERLAND KY-CLINTON KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…PAOLI…SALEM… SCOTTSBURG…MADISON… JASPER… MARENGO…TELL CITY…CORYDON…NEW ALBANY… JEFFERSONVILLE… HAWESVILLE…HARDINSBURG… BRANDENBURG… BEAVER DAM… LEITCHFIELD…ELIZABETHTOWN…FORT KNOX… MOUNT WASHINGTON… SHEPHERDSVILLE…LOUISVILLE…LA GRANGE… BEDFORD…NEW CASTLE… SHELBYVILLE…FRANKFORT… GEORGETOWN… CYNTHIANA… TAYLORSVILLE…LAWRENCEBURG… VERSAILLES… LEXINGTON…PARIS… CARLISLE…BARDSTOWN…SPRINGFIELD… HARRODSBURG…NICHOLASVILLE… WINCHESTER…HODGENVILLE… LEBANON… DANVILLE…LANCASTER…RICHMOND… MORGANTOWN… BROWNSVILLE… MUNFORDVILLE…GREENSBURG… CAMPBELLSVILLE… LIBERTY…STANFORD… RUSSELLVILLE…BOWLING GREEN… FRANKLIN… SCOTTSVILLE…GLASGOW… TOMPKINSVILLE…EDMONTON…COLUMBIA… JAMESTOWN…BURKESVILLE…ALBANY 602 AM EDT FRI OCT 26 2007 /502 AM CDT FRI OCT 26 2007/

…FIRST FROST OF THE FALL SEASON LIKELY SUNDAY NIGHT…

THE FIRST FROST OF THE SEASON WILL LIKELY DEVELOP EARLY MONDAY MORNING UNDER CLEAR SKIES AS TEMPERATURES FALL INTO THE 30S. BY DAWN…TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE NEAR OR APPROACHING THE FREEZING MARK OVER SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND THAT PART OF NORTH CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM LOUISVILLE TO FRANKFORT TO LEXINGTON. ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY…INCLUDING BOWLING GREEN…CAMPBELLSVILLE AND GLASGOW… LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 30S ARE FORECAST.

PLAN TO COVER OR BRING IN YOUR FROST SENSITIVE PLANTS NOW.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

FRANKLIN KY-SCOTT KY-HARRISON KY- ANDERSON KY-WOODFORD KY- FAYETTE KY- BOURBON KY-NICHOLAS KY-WASHINGTON KY- MERCER KY- JESSAMINE KY-CLARK KY- MARION KY-BOYLE KY-GARRARD KY-MADISON KY- GREEN KY-TAYLOR KY-CASEY KY- LINCOLN KY-MONROE KY-METCALFE KY- ADAIR KY-RUSSELL KY-CUMBERLAND KY- CLINTON KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF… FRANKFORT…GEORGETOWN…CYNTHIANA… LAWRENCEBURG…VERSAILLES… LEXINGTON…PARIS…CARLISLE… SPRINGFIELD…HARRODSBURG… NICHOLASVILLE…WINCHESTER… LEBANON…DANVILLE…LANCASTER… RICHMOND…GREENSBURG… CAMPBELLSVILLE…LIBERTY…STANFORD… TOMPKINSVILLE…EDMONTON… COLUMBIA… JAMESTOWN…BURKESVILLE…ALBANY 825 AM EDT TUE OCT 23 2007 /725 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2007/

…WIDESPREAD MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS MOVING ACROSS EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY…

SHOWERS…HEAVY AT TIMES…WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS EAST CENTRAL KENTUCKY DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. WIDESPREAD ONE HALF TO ONE INCH AMOUNTS OF ADDITIONAL RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED DURING THIS TIME.

WITH THIS ADDITIONAL RAINFALL…EXPECT LOTS OF PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS WHICH MAY RESULT IN HYDROPLANING. SLOW DOWN AND ALLOW EXTRA ROOM BETWEEN YOU AND THE NEXT VEHICLE.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

ORANGE IN-WASHINGTON IN-SCOTT IN- JEFFERSON IN-DUBOIS IN- CRAWFORD IN- PERRY IN-HARRISON IN-FLOYD IN-CLARK IN- HANCOCK KY- BRECKINRIDGE KY-MEADE KY- OHIO KY-GRAYSON KY-HARDIN KY-BULLITT KY- JEFFERSON KY-OLDHAM KY-TRIMBLE KY- HENRY KY-SHELBY KY-FRANKLIN KY- SCOTT KY-HARRISON KY-SPENCER KY-ANDERSON KY- WOODFORD KY- FAYETTE KY-BOURBON KY- NICHOLAS KY-NELSON KY-WASHINGTON KY- MERCER KY-JESSAMINE KY-CLARK KY-LARUE KY-MARION KY-BOYLE KY- GARRARD KY- MADISON KY-BUTLER KY-EDMONSON KY-HART KY-GREEN KY- TAYLOR KY-CASEY KY- LINCOLN KY-LOGAN KY-WARREN KY-SIMPSON KY- ALLEN KY-BARREN KY-MONROE KY- METCALFE KY-ADAIR KY-RUSSELL KY- CUMBERLAND KY-CLINTON KY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…PAOLI…SALEM… SCOTTSBURG…MADISON… JASPER… MARENGO…TELL CITY…CORYDON…NEW ALBANY… JEFFERSONVILLE… HAWESVILLE…HARDINSBURG… BRANDENBURG… BEAVER DAM… LEITCHFIELD…ELIZABETHTOWN…FORT KNOX… MOUNT WASHINGTON… SHEPHERDSVILLE…LOUISVILLE…LA GRANGE… BEDFORD…NEW CASTLE… SHELBYVILLE…FRANKFORT… GEORGETOWN… CYNTHIANA… TAYLORSVILLE…LAWRENCEBURG… VERSAILLES… LEXINGTON…PARIS… CARLISLE…BARDSTOWN…SPRINGFIELD… HARRODSBURG…NICHOLASVILLE… WINCHESTER…HODGENVILLE… LEBANON… DANVILLE…LANCASTER…RICHMOND… MORGANTOWN… BROWNSVILLE… MUNFORDVILLE…GREENSBURG… CAMPBELLSVILLE… LIBERTY…STANFORD… RUSSELLVILLE…BOWLING GREEN… FRANKLIN… SCOTTSVILLE…GLASGOW… TOMPKINSVILLE…EDMONTON…COLUMBIA… JAMESTOWN…BURKESVILLE…ALBANY 530 AM EDT TUE OCT 23 2007 /430 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2007/

RAIN…HEAVY AT TIMES…WILL CONTINUE OVER SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY THROUGH THE MORNING COMMUTE. THROUGH 8 AM EDT… WIDESPREAD ONE HALF INCH AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED WITH SEVERAL LOCATIONS ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY FROM BOWLING GREEN TO ELIZABETHTOWN TO LOUISVILLE TO NEW CASTLE…GETTING FROM 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN.

WITH THIS ADDITIONAL RAINFALL…EXPECT HEAVY PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS WHICH MAY RESULT IN HYDROPLANING. SLOW DOWN AND ALLOW EXTRA ROOM BETWEEN YOU AND THE NEXT VEHICLE.

October 19, 2007

blah…. I’m tired…  I’m feverishly rubbing the sleep out of my eyes…
Well, I have no idea yet as to what happened in the area last night, in respect to the weather–I haven’t looked at any news or reports yet. I had stayed up until roughly a quarter past eleven last night, and then resigned myself to sleep, awaiting to be awakened by news of disastrous weather. I had awoke for a moment, at 5:57a.m. this morning, and thought, “Well, it’s over. We made it.” The thought had two emotions–one of happiness, where I was still tired and wanted to sleep, and a feeling of disappointment, where I get a nice cheap thrill from dangerous weather.
I had prepared my bags and equipment last night, before going to bed, in the event that something happened and that I was called upon to work in the office or in the field with the EMA. My bags still sit quietly, on the floor, undisturbed, in front of the desk.
I had moved the scanner upstairs, and took advantage of the weather alert function during the night. It had gone off three times that I recall, last night; once around 10:30p.m., when the tornado watch was extended to cover this region, and twice more, to alert of severe thunderstorms in nearby counties. It’s been silent since.
Now, I sit, trying to get myself to wake up, trying to get moving. I’m so tired.
I wonder how much more Bailey’s blog grew last night, while I slept. It had been quite fun to read–fun watching the comments grow nearly every minute. I think I’ll check his blog first, then go to the NWS, and finally check my inbox to see what news of last night’s events there is available. I also want to see if the threat of not-as-sever-but-still-severe weather is still around, as predicted last night.

Chris Bailey's Weather Blog – Tonight's Sever Weather Threat

Due to the severe weather threat tonight, WKYT’s meteorologist, Chris Bailey, is hosting a “LIVE blog” event.

Chris has been making updates through comments on this post, and is encouraging area citizens, spotters, and weather enthusiasts to chime in, to aid in discussion of the events unfolding tonight.
I’ve been checking in on it every five minutes or so. Been a nice blog entry to watch this evening.