LexKY News
Winter Storm 2026

Winter Storm Warning in effect for Lexington

Just the facts: active NWS alerts, timing, impacts, and the next 48 hours.

Right now

  • Expected conditions: Heavy snow mixed with sleet and freezing rain along and south of the Bluegrass and Western Kentucky Parkways. South of the Parkways, storm total snow and sleet of 4 to 8 inches with total ice amounts up to three quarters of an inch. Localized areas may see total ice over three quarters of an inch. Across southern Indiana and north central Kentucky, mainly snow, heavy at times. Total snow accumulations between 10 and 15 inches. Localized higher amounts of snow and sleet possible.
  • Impacts: Expect power outages and tree damage due to the ice. Travel could be impossible.
  • Timing: Until 7 AM EST /6 AM CST/ Monday.
  • Winter Storm Warning - Winter Storm Warning issued January 24 at 3:06PM EST until January 26 at 7:00AM EST by NWS Louisville KY (ends Mon Jan 26, 07:00 AM EST)
  • Cold Weather Advisory - Cold Weather Advisory issued January 24 at 1:27PM EST until January 27 at 11:00AM EST by NWS Louisville KY (ends Tue Jan 27, 11:00 AM EST)

Next 48 hours

  • This Afternoon: Snow, 19 F, 10 mph NE winds, 90% precip
  • Tonight: Snow, 15 F, 9 mph NE winds, 100% precip
  • Sunday: Light Snow then Freezing Rain, 27 F, 9 mph NE winds, 100% precip
  • Sunday Night: Chance Light Snow, 9 F, 10 mph NW winds, 50% precip

What to watch next

  • Snow. Cloudy, with a high near 19. Wind chill values as low as 4. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
  • Snow before 2am, then snow and a slight chance of sleet between 2am and 4am, then snow and sleet and freezing rain. Cloudy, with a low around 15. Wind chill values as low as 4. Northeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible. Little or no ice accumulation expected.
  • If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. In Indiana, for Indiana Road Conditions please visit http://511in.org In Kentucky, for Kentucky Road Conditions please visit http://goky.ky.gov

Active NWS Alerts

  • Winter Storm Warning — Winter Storm Warning issued January 24 at 3:06PM EST until January 26 at 7:00AM EST by NWS Louisville KY
  • Cold Weather Advisory — Cold Weather Advisory issued January 24 at 1:27PM EST until January 27 at 11:00AM EST by NWS Louisville KY

Near-Term Forecast Snapshot

  • This Afternoon: Snow, 19 F with 10 mph NE winds.
  • Tonight: Snow, 15 F with 9 mph NE winds.
  • Sunday: Light Snow then Freezing Rain, 27 F with 9 mph NE winds.
  • Sunday Night: Chance Light Snow, 9 F with 10 mph NW winds.
  • Monday: Chance Light Snow then Partly Sunny, 14 F with 10 mph W winds.
  • Monday Night: Mostly Clear, -3 F with 10 mph SW winds.

Kentucky Winter Storm Impacts (1984-2005)

Date Storm type Region affected Snow/Ice Fatalities Power outages School status Key infrastructure impacts Source
December 22-23, 2004Ice and snow storm / Blizzard conditionsWestern and South-Central Kentucky12 inches (Louisville); 6 inches (Madisonville); 2 inches ice and snow (Simpson County)1 (Lawrence Bennett, age 4, in traffic accident)City-wide outages in Madisonville and Earlington; 3,300 customers (Warren Rural Electric)Child care centers closed; government offices closedState of emergency; all vehicles ordered off roads; 40-mile logjam on I-71; record low -8F in PaducahMessenger (Madisonville) & Franklin Favorite, December 23-30, 2004 1
February 15-18, 2003Ice storm / Polar VortexWestern and Central Kentucky (notably Lexington)Up to 1 inch of ice; 2 inches frozen precipitation (Paducah)1 (Kenneth Rowan Jr. in related traffic crash)74,000 customers (KY Utilities); 60,000 in Lexington; 25,000 in rural cooperativesClosed (Hopkins County, Dawson Springs, Daviess missed 3 days)Major debris from fallen trees; state of emergency; water main breaks (Murray); water plants shut down (Nicholas and Carlisle counties)Messenger (Madisonville) & Lexington Herald-Leader, February 18-19, 2003 1
January 16-17, 2003Snow storm (including Thunder Snow)Western, Central, and Northern Kentucky4-5 inches (Southern KY); 1-3 inches (Owensboro and Louisville)0 reported (1 minor injury in Henderson)Not in sourceClosed (Christian, Todd, Trigg, Caldwell, Owensboro, Daviess)Extremely slick roads; multiple vehicle slide-offs (17 in Daviess County, 20 in Ohio County); one salt truck damagedOwensboro Messenger-Inquirer & Kentucky New Era, January 16-17, 2003 1
December 4, 2002Freezing rain, sleet, and snowWestern and South-Central Kentucky1 1/2 to 3 inches (Hopkinsville/Pennyrile); 4-7 inches predicted statewide3 (James Price, Kenneth Rowan Jr., Margaret Lewis)Not in sourceWidespread school closings (Christian, Todd, Trigg, Caldwell, Fayette, Danville)Highways iced; three fatal traffic accidents; hospitals treated minor fractures and bruises from slipsLexington Herald-Leader & Kentucky New Era, December 4-5, 2002 1, 2
January 6-7, 1995Freezing rain and snowCentral, Eastern, and Southern KentuckyUp to 1 inch of snow2 (Pamela Alderice Coyle in Lexington; Dorothy C. Wynn in Whitley County)100 customers (Owensboro/OMU); spotty outages (Green River Electric)Most regional schools closed; Owensboro schools remained openDozens of wrecks (50+ in Lexington, 25 in KSP Post area); exit ramps shut down; jackknifed trucks; blocked storm sewer inletsLexington Herald-Leader & Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, January 7, 1995 2
January 17-19, 1994Winter storm / Arctic temperaturesStatewide Kentucky (notably Owensboro, Louisville, Whitesville)2 feet (Whitesville); 16 inches (Louisville); 13-14 inches (Owensboro)Not in source4,000 customers (Green River Electric)Closed (Owensboro/Daviess County resumed Jan. 25)Record low -23F (Owensboro); impassable roads; state of emergency; UK Allied Health buildings severely damaged by burst pipes and leaksOwensboro Messenger-Inquirer, January 18, 2002 2
February 17-18, 1987Rain, sleet, and snow (Icy glaze)Central and Western Kentucky (Hart, Grayson, Hardin counties)1 to 3 inchesNot in source4,000 people in Hart County; failures in Grayson and several other countiesAbout 40 school districts remained closedIcy sidewalks; dozens of wrecks; 10 emergency shelters opened; National Guard deployed with generators for dairy farmersLexington Herald-Leader, February 18, 1987 3
February 2, 1985Winter storm (heaviest since 1978)Statewide Kentucky (notably Western KY)Nearly 1 foot (Muhlenberg County); 10-11 inches (Trigg County); 7-11 inches (Lexington)0 reportedNot in sourceMost schools closed; Morehead State closed early; EKU remained openSlick and hazardous highways (I-75, I-64); parking prohibited on major Lexington thoroughfares; National Guard put on alertLexington Herald-Leader, February 2, 1983 3
January 4-5, 1985Rain, freezing rain, freezing drizzle, and snowCentral, Eastern, and Western Kentucky12 inches (Memphis, TN); 10 inches (Fulton County drifts); 1 inch (Lexington)1 (David Ivan Prosser in I-75 accident near Lexington)Scattered power outages (2,000+ calls to Kentucky Utilities in Fayette County)Not in sourceExtremely hazardous snow-covered roads; jackknifed trailers; downed power lines and trees; damage to roof and gutters (Lexington)Lexington Herald-Leader, January 5, 1985 3
April 13-15, 2004Late-season winter storm (Rain and snow)Western and Eastern Kentucky1 to 3 inches6 (all in Muhlenberg County traffic crashes)Isolated power outagesNot in sourceIcy bridges; head-on collisions; several highways closed by water and flooding; Floyd County bridge closedLexington Herald-Leader, April 14-15, 2004 1
January 19, 1984Major winter storm / Arctic frontKentucky (heaviest in East and Southeast)8 inches (Eastern KY); 6 inches (West Liberty); 5 1/2 inches (Lexington); 2-3 inches (Louisville)0 reported (1 serious injury in I-75 truck crash)Not in sourceAt least 60 school systems closed (including Fayette County)Interstates and parkways limited to one lane; slippery secondary roads; Blue Grass Airport delayed or canceled 4 flightsLexington Herald-Leader, January 19, 1984 3

Sources & Reference Links