Ice Storm — Hancock, Kentucky

2021-02-10 to 2021-02-11 · Hancock, Kentucky

Event narrative

Ice accumulation greater than a quarter inch occurred over at least the southern half of the county. Numerous vehicle crashes were reported, and KY Highway 69 was closed in both directions due to icy conditions. There were numerous crashes from KY 1265 to KY 144.

Wider weather episode

An arctic airmass was centered over the northern Plains, and Kentucky and southern Indiana were positioned directly along a volatile boundary between the arctic air mass and a warm and moist tropical airmass associated with the Gulf of Mexico. The vertical temperature profile was ideal for the formation of freezing rain. The arctic air wedged itself beneath a warm and moist layer aloft. As energy associated with the jet stream passed over the Ohio Valley, a mix of wintry precipitation occurred. A large swath of freezing rain occurred, stretching mainly west to east across Kentucky.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 942567. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.