KENTUCKY — Heavy snowfalls of more than a foot from a single winter storm are uncommon in Kentucky, but historical weather records show that such events are possible in January under the right conditions.
According to long-term climate data from the National Weather Service, Kentucky has experienced several January snowstorms that produced 12 inches or more of snow in parts of the state.
These events typically occur when cold Arctic air is firmly in place at the surface while a strong storm system moves along the Ohio or Tennessee valleys, drawing in deep moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. When temperatures remain below freezing throughout the atmosphere, prolonged and heavy snowfall can result.
Western and central Kentucky are especially vulnerable when slow-moving low-pressure systems track just south of the state, placing Kentucky in a zone of persistent snowfall. In eastern Kentucky, higher elevations can further enhance snow totals when cold air is present, allowing snow to accumulate more efficiently than in surrounding lowlands.
Historical examples include major January storms in the late 1970s, mid-1990s, and early 2000s, when portions of Kentucky recorded snowfall totals exceeding one foot from a single system. In some cases, localized amounts were even higher due to banding, where narrow zones of intense snowfall persist for several hours.
These events are not typical every winter, Kentucky’s climate and geography make them possible. January is statistically the coldest month of the year, increasing the likelihood that precipitation falls as snow rather than rain when strong winter systems move through the region.
