After all was said and done, things played out as expected for the most part with this latest winter storm, with basically the entire area picking up measureable snowfall, the first of the season for many of us. We expected widespread totals of 4-6 inches, with some locally heavier amounts, especially in the eastern parts of the area. Here's a summary of the event:
On Thursday, an area of low pressure developed off the east coast of Texas in the Gulf of Mexico. It appeared that the track of this storm would turn northeastward through the deep south and then turn north and track along the Appalachians. This forecast track put the area in the crosshairs for a possible 1-2 inches of snow by early Friday morning, then heavier snow bringing in an additional 4-8 inches Friday afternoon and evening with the associated upper-level low of this system. During the overnight hours Thursday night/Friday morning, the system failed to make the northeastward turn, which kept most of the moisture south of the region, thus preventing snowfall from forming over the southeastern half of the region. An area of atmospheric lift did present itself over most of southeast MO and the western half of southern IL, producing 1-4 inches of snow during the early morning hours Friday. By Friday afternoon, the upper-level low finally began to progress eastward out of central Arkansas, and spread a large area of moderate to heavy snowfall into southeast MO early in the afternoon, then across the Mississippi River into the eastern half of the area by late afternoon. Conditions deteriorated quickly over western portions of KY and TN by the evening commute. In fact, near-blizzard conditions were reported by officials on KY highways Friday night, when a special appeal had to be made for motorists to avoid travel. Conditions were so severe in places that road crews had to halt clearing operations because visibility was reduced to less than 30 feet. By Saturday morning, the system finally picked up steam and accelerated up the Atlantic Coast, pulling away from our area. The final snowfall totals matched up pretty well with what was expected in the end, and were heaviest over the Purchase and Pennyrile Parkway regions of western KY.
--Meteorologist Trent Okerson
Snowfall Reports from NWS (unofficial/preliminary):
Kentucky:
--Water Valley: 3"
--Murray: 4-5"
--Pembroke: 6"
--Calvert City: 4"
--Owensboro (downtown): 5.5"
--Henderson: 9" (drifts up to 2 feet)
--Benton: 4"
--Grand Rivers: 3"
--Mayfield: 3"
--Eddyville: 6"
--Mortons Gap: 7.3"
--Crutchfield (Fulton Co.): 4"
--Princeton: 6"
--Paducah (Barkley Rg. Airport): 2"
--Hopkinsville: 5-6"
--Montgomery (Trigg Co.): 7-8" (drifts up to 1.5 ft. on roadways)
Tennessee:
--Gibson: 3"
--Greenfield: 1.5"
--Ripley: 3"
--Paris: 3"
--Dyersburg: 4"
--Newbern: 4"
--Huntingdon: 4"
--Dresden: 4"
--Union City: 6"
--Tiptonville: 4"
--Jackson: 4.5"
Illinois:
--Galatia: 3.2"
--Harrisburg: 5"
--Carrier Mills: 4.5"
--Ullin: 3"
--Thompsonville: 6"
--Metropolis: 2-3"
Missouri:
--East Prairie: 4"
--Wappapello: 4"
--Sikeston: 4"
--Campbell: 4"
--Zalma: 3.5"
--Malden: 3"
--Poplar Bluff: 2-3"
