textproduct: Jackson

KEY MESSAGES

- A fast moving clipper system will cross the area later today and this evening, with the potential for times of flurries and perhaps patches of light snow with minor accumulations.

- There is a potential for a more widespread light snow event Friday/Saturday for parts of eastern Kentucky depending on the evolution of a possible large system developing/moving up the Eastern Seaboard.

- Bitter cold weather lasts through the upcoming weekend, with at least a brief warming trend then possible early next week.

UPDATE

Issued at 935 AM EST WED JAN 28 2026

Temperatures have warmed north of I-64 to above Cold Weather Advisory thresholds, thus the advisory has been cancelled early. Otherwise, the near term forecast remains on track.

UPDATE Issued at 635 AM EST WED JAN 28 2026

Although a few flurries could be falling from lingering low clouds in a few spots, radar trends have been for these to dissipate over the past couple of hours. Some patchy fog was included over the next couple of hours near the I-75 corridor and to the west based on recent observations of reductions in visibility there. There is a remote possibility of slick spots or patches of freezing fog there until visibilities rise. Hourly temperatures have been adjusted based on recent observations.

LONG TERM

(Thursday night through Tuesday) Issued at 335 AM EST WED JAN 28 2026

At the onset of the long term period, the upper air pattern will feature a highly amplified ridge of high pressure at 500-mb, over the Intermountian-West, while an upper level-low begins to deepen downstream, over the Great Lakes. At the surface, high pressure holds strong over the Northern Plains, while a Gulf low resides over the Southern Louisiana/Mississippi area. As the upper level trough from the Great Lakes works south through Saturday, so does the surface high. As this occurs, the surface low over the south begins to progress northeast, modeled to rapidly intensify off the Carolina coastline, as a Miller-Type-A storm by Saturday evening. This low is then expected to continue close to shore as it heads into New England, by Sunday evening.

For sensible weather in Kentucky, scattered snow showers will be possible under light northeasterly winds, as Cold Air Damming (CAD) will likely occur over the Appalachians, on Friday. Temperatures are expected to range from the lower 20s in the north to the low 30s across the southern part of the CWA. Cold air will continue to advect into the area Friday heading into Saturday. Temperatures Friday night are expected to drop into the single digits across the area, and may hover just a degree or two above zero across the Bluegrass area. As for any potential effects from the Miller-Type-A storm on Saturday, there are still several variables such as storm track, when or if the low closes off, among other things that could alter where greatest impacts are. That said, Cluster Analysis shows fairly good agreement in the overall pattern, troughing in the Southeast US bringing below normal temperatures to the area. As noted in an earlier discussion, 925-mb temperatures neat -20C over Eastern Kentucky early Saturday, may produce light flurries or snow showers across the area if any shallow moisture remains. Daytime highs will struggle to reach 20 for all areas, dropping into the single digits again Saturday night.

Once the trough axis moves through the area Saturday evening, warm air advection (WAA) will allow temperatures to recover some on Sunday, into the low to mid 20s across the area. A warming trend continues into next week, with relatively quiet conditions and highs reaching the 30s on Monday, and the low 30s to lower 40s on Tuesday. temperatures at night will range from the teens on Monday night to lower 20s Tuesday night. The next system that could impact the are looks to occur around mid-week, however models are wide-ranging on outcomes.

AVIATION

(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Thursday morning) ISSUED AT 640 AM EST WED JAN 28 2026

Low clouds have largely scattered out, but where they remain, MVFR is observed. Winds were light and variable or southwest to west at 5KT or less at issuance time. Another clipper system will approach the area today and should bring mainly mid and high clouds. With the heating of the day, some development or redevelopment of low clouds could occur, but confidence was too low to include at this time. Overall, other than initial patches of low clouds and some MVFR, VFR is anticipated areawide through the TAF period. Also, with daytime heating/mixing, winds will become southwest to west between about 5 and 10KT with some higher gusts into the 15 to 20KT range possible. Winds should then slacken after 22Z.

JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.