textproduct: Louisville

KEY MESSAGES

* The Cold Weather Advisory goes into effect tonight for counties along and north of the I64 corridor. Wind chills as low as -11 expected in the advisory area.

* A weak disturbance passing northeast of the region may bring some snow flurries to the Bluegrass region this evening.

* Light snow and flurries are possible Thursday night into Friday as a weak disturbance passes south of Kentucky.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 346 PM EST Tue Jan 27 2026

After a bitter cold start this morning, temps have warmed into the 20s under mostly sunny skies. These temps, even though they are still below freezing, are a nice change compared to the frigid temps we have been dealing with.

A weak mid-level shortwave is pivoting across the Ohio Valley today, and is expected to push a mositure-starved cold front through the region this evening. This cold front will bring a low-end chance for some snow flurries across the Bluegrass tonight, though model soundings show limited moisture getting into the DGZ, and dry air both above and below this cloud deck. However, given the cold temps, it won't be too difficult to squeeze out some flurries or very light snow. The limited moisture will work in our favor by restricting snow and QPF amounts.

Very cold temps are expected again tonight into tomorrow morning, with single digits across south-central KY. Better sky cover clearing across the northern half of the forecast area will result in better radiational cooling, and sub-zero temps north of the KY Pkwys as a result. Wind chills in this area are also expected to be below zero, so the Cold Weather Advisory will continue for tonight. Could also see some patchy freezing fog, given at least some partial clearing and lighter winds, but is not expected to be widespread.

For tomorrow, sfc high pressure moves into the Ohio Valley. Daytime temps will peak in the upper teens to low 20s with mostly sunny sky cover. Clouds increase again tomorrow night, with low temperatures likely ranging between 5-10 degrees in the northern part of the forecast area, and low teens across the Kentucky-Tennessee border.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 346 PM EST Tue Jan 27 2026

Temperatures will remain well below normal Thursday through the weekend. We'll start off the period dry on Thursday, but we'll have at least a couple chances for light snow through the weekend. An upper level shortwave trough is forecast to be swinging southeast over the central Plains Thursday morning. This weak disturbance will continue to rotate into the Southeast Thursday night into Friday morning, spreading deeper moisture east across the Lower OH Valley.

Thursday looks mainly dry and chilly, with highs ranging from the mid 20s along the I-64 corridor to the lower 30s in south-central KY. Thursday night into Friday, model forecast soundings suggest sufficient saturation for light snow and flurries. A majority of LREF members also point to the idea of very light QPF. Lift is weak, but a hundredth or two of QPF could yield a dusting of light, fluffy snow. Temperatures are forecast to drop back into the single digits and teens early Friday morning.

Friday into the weekend, a piece of the northern stream upper low/PV anomaly will split off and rotate southeast over the Ohio Valley. A strong arctic sfc high will build south over the Plains and Midwest, bringing a frigid airmass into the region on deep northerly flow. Highs on Friday will likely only reach the upper teens to mid 20s, and temperatures are forecast to plummet to around zero Friday night and early Saturday morning. Cold weather headlines may eventually be needed for this time frame. Wind chills between -5 and -15 degrees are possible Saturday morning.

Additional very light snow or flurries are not out of the question Friday night into Saturday as the upper low rotates overhead. But it appears any significant snow will stay well to our east with the development of a strong East Coast storm. Highs on Saturday will only be in the teens, with temperatures dropping back into the single digits Saturday night.

We'll see the redevelopment of warm air advection by Sunday as mid- level shortwave ridging noses in from the west. Highs on Sunday should reach the low to mid 20s. A fast-moving clipper may bring another chance for light snow Sunday night into Monday.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1217 PM EST Tue Jan 27 2026

Latest surface analysis places an approaching NE-SW oriented cold front across central IL while current satellite depicts mostly clear skies, though recent imagery has shown some MVFR clouds around 2kft forming out ahead of the front across central KY. These low clouds will likely result in a couple hours of MVFR CIGs at LEX and RGA. Otherwise, expect VFR conditions to dominate this TAF cycle. Winds are gusty out of the west to start the period and will begin to back to NW behind the front while also lowering in speeds this evening.

LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

KY...Cold Weather Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 11 AM EST Wednesday for KYZ030>037-041>043-049. IN...Cold Weather Advisory from 10 PM EST /9 PM CST/ this evening to 11 AM EST /10 AM CST/ Wednesday for INZ076>079-083-084- 089>092.