Frost/Freeze — Owsley, Kentucky

2020-05-09 · Owsley, Kentucky

Wider weather episode

A late-season push of Arctic air brought a freeze and record-breaking cold temperatures across eastern Kentucky May 9-10th, following a strong cold front which pushed through eastern Kentucky late in the evening on May 8th. The Jackson National Weather Service Office, on top of Sugar Camp Mountain, dropped to 30 degrees on the morning of the 9th, setting an all-time record low temperature for the month of May. The previous record was 32 degrees set in 1989 and tied in 1997 and 2004. Jackson also broke the daily record of 35 degrees set in 1983. The other long-standing eastern Kentucky NWS weather recording site at the London-Corbin Airport plummeted to 28 degrees, tying the previous all-time record low temperature for the month of May set in 1963. London also broke the daily record low of 33 set in 1976. Elsewhere across eastern Kentucky, most experienced temperatures in the upper 20s to lower 30s. A few of the higher elevation locations were even colder, including Black Mountain (elevation 4,031 ft.) and Dorton (elevation 2,774 ft.) with lows of 21 and 26 degrees, respectively.

The intense May sun quickly moderated the anomalously cold airmass during the afternoon of the 9th. However, the airmass was still cool and dry enough for one more night of sub-freezing temperatures across much of eastern Kentucky into the morning of May 10th. The Jackson National Weather Service Office, located on a thermal belt ridge, dropped to a daily record low of 36 degrees, breaking the previous daily record low of 38 degrees set in 2010. Meanwhile, the London-Corbin Airport dipped to 33 degrees, falling 3 degrees short of the 30 degree daily record set in 1966. Many of the sheltered valleys saw temperatures dipping to between 29 and 32 degrees. Record cool daily maximum temperatures of 54 degrees were also set at the Jackson office on both the 8th and 9th.

The first night generally featured the coldest sub-freezing temperatures, but the lateness of the frontal passage on the evening of the 8th kept the coldest air from settling over the area for more than a few hours, possibly resulting in a less damaging freeze than what would have typically occurred with cold temperatures of this magnitude. That being said, impacts were still felt, especially in terms of horticulture. Apples were taken out in Rowan County, while Pulaski County had about all of their peaches frozen out. Pears and winter wheat were also damaged across eastern Kentucky.

The last time eastern Kentucky felt temperatures this cold this late in the season was May 10, 1966.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 881674. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.