Here comes another Winter Storm Watch
Our next weathermaker is poised to bring a delightful stew of snow, sleet, freezing rain, and then liquid rain.
The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Friday afternoon through late Friday night. The text of their bulletin states:
* TIMING: SNOW AND SLEET WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA BY MIDDAY FRIDAY. THE PRECIPITATION WILL INTENSIFY AND TRANSITION TO FREEZING RAIN FRIDAY NIGHT. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM ABOVE FREEZING BY EARLY SATURDAY.
* MAIN IMPACT: A COMBINATION OF LIGHT SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS UNDERNEATH A THIN LAYER OF ICE WILL CREATE A PERIOD OF VERY HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY FRIDAY EVENING. THERE IS SOME POTENTIAL FOR MORE SIGNIFICANT ICING OF ELEVATED OBJECTS. IF THAT OCCURS...SOME ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES COULD BECOME A PROBLEM.
At present, most of the computer models are showing that we will get above freezing just as the heavier rain is arriving early Saturday. The forecast for Cape shows we will be hovering around 34-36 degrees for most of Saturday. This would prevent an epic ice storm, but it would create a soggy mess -- with flash flooding potential -- as our snowpack wilts under the rain.
However, the models have been trending slightly colder. If this trend continues, then we could stay at or below freezing for longer, allowing more ice. Indeed, one model (12Z NAM) actually shows us getting mostly freezing rain -- a scary prospect indeed.
The rain Saturday evening could change back to freezing rain, sleet, or snow before ending. Then it will get cold again for next week, although not as brutal as this week.
Speaking of cold, the low temperature reported by the Cape airport last night was -19°F. If this was an accurate reading, it would represent a new all-time record low for Cape -- the previous record was -18°F set in 1977.
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