Widespread Freezing Rain & Sleet In Our Area!
I am getting a ton of reports of sleet and freezing rain from areas along and north of I-64 right now. I also continue to be concerned about icing potential in part of our area. Let me get you the latest.
Sleet / Freezing Rain Right Now
The very low dewpoints continue to have a major impact on temperatures. The air temperature dropped a degree last hour as the low dewpoints are causing the precipitation to evaporate on it's travel to the surface. That evaporation literally draws heat out of the air and cools the atmosphere. Notice the western part of our area (where the precipitation has been falling longer) that the temperatures are colder from the evaporational cooling.
This sets the stage for the freezing rain situation I have talked about for days. Notice we have widespread precipitation overspreading the area now.
Most of the reports from Bedford, IN to Seymour, IN to around Paoli, IN are sleet or freezing rain.
Most of my reports from Salem, IN to Floyds Knobs, IN are sleet or freezing rain. Prospect, KY is reporting sleet, but downtown Louisville mainly rain.
Brandenburg, KY to Leitchfield, KY are mainly reporting rain.
There is also a large area of heavy freezing rain in western KY moving this way.
AdvanceTrak shows ice accumulations are possible along and north of I-64. Notice some light icing is showing up on AdvanceTrak, but with pavement temperatures above freezing I would expect slick spots mainly on bridges, overpasses, on/off ramps, trees and cars.
My Thoughts On Tonight's Winter Weather
Honestly, I do not agree with removing Louisville from the advisory. I think we will see some freezing rain and slick spots on elevated surfaces are possible. I think we have advised lower level events than this and I would advise this event. The window for freezing rain in Louisville is until around 1 am - 2 am and our northern counties until around 5 am.
Southern Indiana is the greatest concern for icing. I think a light icing will occur from Paoli, IN to Bedford, IN to Seymour, IN to Madison, IN to Carrollton, KY. I wouldn't be surprised to see an area of 0.1" to 0.2" of ice to develop. Elevated surfaces, bridges, and on/off ramps are very likely to ice. Roads could ice especially late tonight.
Louisville should be very careful with any travel this evening. Much more on WDRB News at 6:30 pm.
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Marc, some sleet is starting to mix in with the rain in the St.Matthews area still primarily rain but sleet is falling
Posted by: prelude | 02/21/2013 at 05:50 PM
prelude, thank you!
Posted by: Marc Weinberg | 02/21/2013 at 05:54 PM
Check that sleet has now become the main precip in St.Matthews that was a quick change over
Posted by: prelude | 02/21/2013 at 05:55 PM
we are getting sleet in Valley Station around valley high school.;
Posted by: Patricia Jones | 02/21/2013 at 06:00 PM
Patricia, thank you!
Posted by: Marc Weinberg | 02/21/2013 at 06:01 PM
We are getting sleeting rain right now in Bedford KY
Posted by: Moonshine Mazzini | 02/21/2013 at 06:02 PM
Moonshine, thank you!
Posted by: Marc Weinberg | 02/21/2013 at 06:10 PM
A small layer of sleet is on our deck in Louisville now
Posted by: evan | 02/21/2013 at 06:44 PM
evan, thank you
Posted by: Marc Weinberg | 02/21/2013 at 07:03 PM
Sidewalks becoming slick in the Middletown area sleet is slowly starting to accumulate. NWS dropped the ball on canceling the WWA for Jefferson Co.
Posted by: prelude | 02/21/2013 at 07:19 PM
Snow is starting to fall on Hurstbourne Lane and I-64
Posted by: prelude | 02/21/2013 at 07:37 PM
prelude, I do not agree with it being dropped at all.
Posted by: Marc Weinberg | 02/21/2013 at 07:49 PM
Back to all sleet again
Posted by: prelude | 02/21/2013 at 07:49 PM