Heavy Snow — Whitley, Kentucky

2025-01-10 · Whitley, Kentucky

Event narrative

Snow fell somewhat intermittently in Whitley County, beginning around midday on January 10th and continuing through much of the afternoon and evening. An initial report from Corbin via social media at 1930 EST on the 10th showed approximately 2.0 inches of snow accumulation. By the following morning, January 11th, storm totals had increased and showed some variability across the county. A measured 2.5 inch snowfall storm total was reported at Faber. The Whitley County Emergency Manager reported approximately 3.0 inches of snowfall 1 mile east-northeast of Walden near I-75. The heaviest amount reported was a measured 4.0 inches of snowfall in Corbin, reported by the public near the intersection of Cumberland Falls Road and Main Street.

Wider weather episode

A complex winter storm impacted eastern Kentucky on January 10th and 11th, 2025. The event featured the interaction of a northern stream weather system with a plume of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. Snow began to spread across the region on the morning of the 10th, becoming widespread and significant by the afternoon. The peak of the event occurred during the evening of the 10th, with bands of heavy snow producing snowfall rates of up to one inch per hour at times, particularly across southern and southeastern counties. By the morning of the 11th, the steady snow had tapered off from west to east, ending as flurries. The storm produced a widespread snowfall of 3 to 5 inches, with the highest totals of up to 7 inches amplified by orographic lift in the highest terrain of the southeastern mountains.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1283121. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.