textproduct: Paducah

KEY MESSAGES

- Light to moderate snow will accompany the arrival of an Arctic cold front this morning. A light dusting of snow is possible, but no significant travel impacts are expected.

- Bitter cold temperatures and dangerously cold wind chill values are forecast today through Saturday morning. A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect for the entire area late tonight through Saturday morning.

- Temperatures will begin to moderately back to near normal values early next week.

- While confidence is low, the next chance of widespread wintry precipitation is forecast Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning. A light wintry mix of rain, snow, or freezing rain is possible, especially Tuesday night.

UPDATE

Issued at 521 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

Updated Aviation discussion for the 12z TAF issuance.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 141 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

The much-advertised Arctic cold front will continue to push from north to south across the area this morning. Strong surface deformation has led to a narrow band of light to moderate snow along the leading edge of the front. So far, no accumulations beyond a trace or travel impacts have been reported, but localized areas may see a few tenths of an inch of accumulation.

The strong post-frontal CAA regime will bring blustery north winds and high temperatures in the upper 10s to lower 20s. Wind chill values during the day will stay in the single digits to lower 10s. Tonight, temperatures will fall into the single digits to lower 10s, and wind chill values of 0 to -10F are expected overnight through Saturday morning. A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect during this time. A few weak vorticity waves will kick off isolated flurries as well, but no accumulation is expected.

As the deep troughing over the eastern CONUS begins to retreat, temperatures will begin to moderate gradually beginning Sunday into the first half of next week. In fact, high temperatures in the middle 30s to lower 40s are forecast Monday and Tuesday, which will feel like a heatwave compared to the last week of bitter cold. As the region transitions into a period of more zonal H5 flow, which will keep the bitter Arctic airmass at bay with near-normal temperatures expected.

The next chance of widespread precipitation remains on track to arrives Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning. With temperatures being closer to normal values, there remains a lot questions about precipitation type. The latest NBM guidance depicts rain transitioning to a wintry mix of snow, sleet, freezing, and plain rain with light snow and ice accumulations possible by Wednesday morning. While the 00z GFS has trended warmer with an all-liquid solution, the 00z ECMWF has very impactful snow, sleet, and freezing rain accumulations. The 00z global ensemble mean has about a 5-15% chance of a light glaze of freezing rain and a 10-30% chance of 1 inch of snow or greater. Expect a lot of twists and turns with the forecast over the next few days, so the best thing to do is check for updates.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 521 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

A band of light to moderate snow will continue to impact areas of northwest Kentucky and the Kentucky Pennyrile through 15z or so, with MVFR to IFR vsby restrictions at OWB through 13-14z. Afterwords a mix of mid- and upper-level cloud cover is expected through late this afternoon, when additional MVFR low status with bases of 1500-2500ft will move into region from the northwest through the end of the forecast period. Winds will be steady from the north at 9-14 kts.

PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

IL...Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to noon CST Saturday for ILZ075>078-080>094. MO...Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to noon CST Saturday for MOZ076-086-087-100-107>112-114. IN...Cold Weather Advisory from midnight CST /1 AM EST/ tonight to noon CST /1 PM EST/ Saturday for INZ081-082-085>088. KY...Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to noon CST Saturday for KYZ001>022.