Monday, January 19
NWS Alerts Active This Day
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued January 18 at 2:38PM EST by NWS Wilmington OH
A few hours of light snow are expected late this evening, mainly after 8 pm. While accumulations will be light, some challenging travel conditions may develop given the cold temperatures. Use caution and allow for extra time to reach your destination.
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued January 18 at 7:17PM EST by NWS Wilmington OH
A few hours of light snow will be possible tonight. While any accumulations will be a half inch or less, some challenging travel conditions may develop given the cold temperatures. Use caution and allow for extra time to reach your destination.
Cold Weather Advisory
Cold Weather Advisory issued January 19 at 12:14AM EST until January 20 at 10:00AM EST by NWS Wilmington OH
WHAT Very cold wind chills as low as 5 to 10 below zero expected.
WHERE Portions of southeast Indiana, northeast and northern Kentucky, and central, south central, and southwest Ohio.
WHEN From 5 PM this afternoon to 10 AM EST Tuesday.
IMPACTS The cold wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.
Dress in layers including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must go outside.
Cold Weather Advisory
Cold Weather Advisory issued January 19 at 1:40AM EST until January 20 at 12:00PM EST by NWS Charleston WV
WHAT Very cold wind chills as low as 6 below expected.
WHERE Portions of northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, and central, northern, southern, and western West Virginia.
WHEN From 9 PM this evening to noon EST Tuesday.
IMPACTS The cold wind chills as low as 5 below zero could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. Keep pets indoors as much as possible. Additional information can be found at https://www.weather.gov/rlx as well as on our X and Facebook pages.
Cold Weather Advisory
Cold Weather Advisory issued January 19 at 1:57AM EST until January 20 at 10:00AM EST by NWS Louisville KY
WHAT Very cold wind chills as low as 3 to 6 below zero expected.
WHERE Portions of Indiana and east central and north central Kentucky.
WHEN From 10 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Tuesday.
IMPACTS Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures.
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. Keep pets indoors as much as possible.
Cold Weather Advisory
Cold Weather Advisory issued January 19 at 2:20AM EST until January 20 at 10:00AM EST by NWS Jackson KY
WHAT Very cold wind chills as low as 5 below expected.
WHERE Bath, Elliott, Fleming, Menifee, Montgomery, Rowan, and Morgan Counties.
WHEN From 10 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Tuesday.
IMPACTS Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures.
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. Keep pets indoors as much as possible.
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued January 19 at 4:06AM EST by NWS Wilmington OH
An Arctic front will sweep east across the region between 5 AM and 9 AM. A few hours of snow showers and west wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph will occur with the frontal passage. While any accumulations will generally be a half inch or less, some challenging travel conditions may develop given, rapidly changing road conditions and visibilities, strong wind and cold temperatures. These conditions will impact the morning commute. Use caution and allow for extra time to reach your destination.
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued January 19 at 5:10AM EST by NWS Jackson KY
Clearing skies associated with a passing area of high pressure will allow temperatures to fall into the single digits for most locations late tonight into Tuesday morning. When combined with light winds, this will yield apparent temperatures near zero in a few spots. If you must go outside be sure to bundle up. If possible, keep your pets indoors during this blast of cold air.
Cold Weather Advisory
Cold Weather Advisory issued January 19 at 8:03AM EST until January 20 at 10:00AM EST by NWS Wilmington OH
WHAT Very cold wind chills as low as 10 below zero expected.
WHERE Portions of southeast Indiana, northeast and northern Kentucky, and central, south central, and southwest Ohio.
WHEN From 5 PM this afternoon to 10 AM EST Tuesday.
IMPACTS The cold wind chills as low as 10 below zero could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.
Dress in layers including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must go outside.
Cold Weather Advisory
Cold Weather Advisory issued January 19 at 10:44AM EST until January 20 at 12:00PM EST by NWS Charleston WV
WHAT Very cold wind chills as low as 10 below expected.
WHERE Portions of northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, and central, northeast, northern, southeast, southern, and western West Virginia.
WHEN From 9 PM this evening to noon EST Tuesday.
IMPACTS The cold wind chills as low as 10 below zero could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures.
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. Keep pets indoors as much as possible. Additional information can be found at https://www.weather.gov/rlx as well as on our X and Facebook pages.
Cold Weather Advisory
Cold Weather Advisory issued January 19 at 11:58AM EST until January 20 at 10:00AM EST by NWS Jackson KY
WHAT Very cold wind chills as low as 5 below expected.
WHERE Bath, Elliott, Fleming, Menifee, Montgomery, Rowan, and Morgan Counties.
WHEN From 10 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Tuesday.
IMPACTS Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures.
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. Keep pets indoors as much as possible.
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued January 19 at 3:05PM EST by NWS Jackson KY
Clearing skies associated with a passing area of high pressure will allow temperatures to fall into the single digits for many locations late tonight into Tuesday morning. When combined with light winds, this will yield apparent temperatures near zero in a few spots overnight. If you must go outside be sure to bundle up. If possible, keep your pets indoors during this blast of cold air.
Cold Weather Advisory
Cold Weather Advisory issued January 19 at 3:24PM EST until January 20 at 10:00AM EST by NWS Wilmington OH
WHAT Very cold wind chills as low as 10 below zero expected.
WHERE Portions of southeast Indiana, northeast and northern Kentucky, and central, south central, and southwest Ohio.
WHEN Until 10 AM EST Tuesday.
IMPACTS The cold wind chills as low as 5 below zero could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.
Dress in layers including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must go outside.
Cold Weather Advisory
Cold Weather Advisory issued January 19 at 3:28PM EST until January 20 at 10:00AM EST by NWS Louisville KY
WHAT Very cold wind chills as low as 3 to 6 below zero expected.
WHERE Portions of Indiana and east central and north central Kentucky.
WHEN From 10 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Tuesday.
IMPACTS Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures.
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. Keep pets indoors as much as possible.
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued January 19 at 5:15PM EST by NWS Charleston WV
Clearing skies will allow temperatures to fall into the single digits overnight into Tuesday morning. When combined with light winds, resulting wind chills will drop to near zero. If you must go outside be sure to bundle up and if possible, keep your pets indoors during this cold spell.
Cold Weather Advisory
Cold Weather Advisory issued January 19 at 6:31PM EST until January 20 at 12:00PM EST by NWS Charleston WV
WHAT Very cold wind chills as low as 10 below expected.
WHERE Portions of northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, and central, northeast, northern, southeast, southern, and western West Virginia.
WHEN Until noon EST Tuesday.
IMPACTS The cold wind chills as low as 10 below zero could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures.
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. Keep pets indoors as much as possible. Additional information can be found at https://www.weather.gov/rlx as well as on our X and Facebook pages.
How Did We Do?
Comparing our AI forecast to actual observations from Monday, January 19, 2026.
Regional Assessments
Purchase Area
Northwest Pennyrile
Southwest Pennyrile
Barren River
Louisville Metro
Lincoln Trail
Lake Cumberland
Northern Kentucky
Inner Bluegrass
Bluegrass Foothills
Northeast Kentucky
Southeast Kentucky
Arctic Grip: Biting Winds and Sub-Freezing Temperatures
A powerful arctic high pressure system will dominate the Commonwealth on Monday, bringing frigid temperatures and dangerous wind chills despite periods of sunshine. No measurable precipitation is expected as a bone-dry air mass settles over the Ohio Valley.
Confidence Assessment
High model agreement on a dry forecast and the presence of an arctic air mass. The only minor uncertainty lies in the exact timing of the secondary temperature drop and the extent of morning cloud cover.
Get Personalized Forecasts
Choose which region in Kentucky you're interested in and we'll always show you that one first. You can change your selected region by clicking the "Star" icon on any regional forecast.
Purchase Area
Expect a bright but very cold day across the Purchase area. Temperatures will reach their peak of 27 degrees in the morning before falling into the teens by evening. A persistent north breeze will keep wind chills in the low teens throughout the afternoon.
Northwest Pennyrile
It will be a windy and cold day in Owensboro and Henderson. While the sun will be out, wind chills will dip into the single digits as the arctic air reinforces itself. Temperatures will struggle to reach the mid-20s, falling quickly after sunset.
Southwest Pennyrile
The sun will be out in full force for Hopkinsville, but temperatures will stay well below freezing. Your highest temperature of 29 degrees will likely occur before noon. Wind chills will remain in the teens for most of the day.
Barren River
Bowling Green and Glasgow will see a very cold day with temperatures failing to reach the freezing mark. Evening lows will drop into the single digits. A steady breeze will make it feel like it is in the single digits during the morning commute.
Louisville Metro
Louisville will feel a sharp chill as temperatures peak at 24 degrees in the morning and fall into the low teens by dinner. Biting winds will make it feel near zero at times during the morning hours.
Lincoln Trail
Elizabethtown and Bardstown will face a very cold day with high winds making it feel much chillier than the mid-20s on the thermometer. Expect skies to remain clear, but the arctic air will be relentless.
Lake Cumberland
A bright but bitter day is expected for Somerset. Temperatures will struggle to reach 30 degrees, and wind chills will stay in the teens all afternoon. Skies will clear by mid-morning, but the cold air will continue to pour in.
Northern Kentucky
Northern Kentucky will be the coldest spot in the state. Morning clouds will give way to sun, but wind chills will dip below zero. Temperatures will peak at only 22 degrees and crash into the single digits tonight.
Inner Bluegrass
Expect a very cold and windy day for Lexington. Highs will stay in the low 20s, but wind chills will hover near zero in the morning. Clear skies will prevail by afternoon, but temperatures will drop rapidly.
Bluegrass Foothills
Richmond and Berea will see plenty of sun, but it won't stop the wind chill from staying in the single digits most of the day. Highs will only reach 26 degrees before falling.
Northeast Kentucky
Ashland and Morehead will start with gray skies and very cold air. Temperatures will drop during the afternoon as clouds clear. Wind chills will remain in the single digits for much of the day.
Southeast Kentucky
The sun will return to Hazard and Pikeville, but it will be a cold day with mountain peaks likely staying well below freezing. Evening temperatures will plummet quickly once the sun goes down.
Possible Outcomes
Weather forecasting involves uncertainty. Below are two scenarios representing the range of possible outcomes: the "Boom" scenario shows the worst-case/highest-impact result if conditions align unfavorably, while the "Bust" scenario shows the best-case/lowest-impact result if the forecast doesn't materialize as expected.
The 'Boom' Scenario
A slightly slower arrival of the secondary arctic surge could allow southern Kentucky to briefly touch 32°F before plummeting after sunset.
The 'Bust' Scenario
If stratocumulus clouds from the Great Lakes moisture fetch linger longer than expected in Northern and Central Kentucky, daytime recovery will be non-existent, keeping many areas in the low 20s all day.
Model Disagreements
When models disagree, a call must be made to determine the most likely outcome. This decision is based on a combination of factors including model performance, historical data, and the models general accounting of each climatic region of Kentucky.
The Valley Radiational Cooling Floor
The GEM is significantly more aggressive with overnight lows, dropping temperatures into the single digits for the Bluegrass and Eastern valleys, whereas the NAM keeps values in the mid-teens.
Why GEM Wins
In a high-pressure setup with PWAT values below 0.20 inches and clearing skies, the GEM's cold bias often verifies as it better captures the rapid thermal loss in the Kentucky valley systems.
The Non-Diurnal Curve Conflict
The Euro and GEM suggest temperatures will peak during the morning hours and fall through the afternoon as a secondary arctic boundary clears the state, while the NAM and GFS show a more traditional, albeit suppressed, diurnal rise.
Why EURO Wins
The ECMWF handles secondary cold-air surges and the associated thermal advection in post-frontal regimes with higher precision than the GFS, which often over-corrects for solar heating in dry arctic air.
Celestial Almanac
New Moon
Purchase Area
Northwest Pennyrile
Southwest Pennyrile
Barren River
Louisville Metro
Lincoln Trail
Lake Cumberland
Northern Kentucky
Inner Bluegrass
Bluegrass Foothills
Northeast Kentucky
Southeast Kentucky
Dive Deeper Into the Models
This forecast is a synthesis of raw data from the NAM, GFS, ECMWF, and GEM models. These models provide detailed atmospheric analyses including 500mb vorticity, precipitation rates, and more. You can take a look at the raw model data by clicking the links below.