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How Much Snow Will Louisville Get? What the latest NWS forecast predicts

After a period of cold rain, the Louisville metro area has a high chance of seeing more than 8 inches of snow Jan. 24-25, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service in Louisville.

Parts of Kentucky, including the Louisville metro area, and Indiana, will remain under a winter storm watch from January 24 until 7 a.m. January 26.

“A winter storm is expected to have moderate to heavy impacts across central Kentucky and southern Indiana this weekend. Periods of moderate to heavy snow are forecast this weekend with a chance of a mix of snow and sleet across southern Kentucky,” the advisory said.

Forecasters believe that strong Arctic high pressure will bring cold air from the north into the Ohio Valley, and a series of low-pressure systems will move into the Tennessee Valley and Gulf Coast states. Louisville will also see bitterly cold temperatures, with a low of 8 degrees on January 24 and a wind chill of -4 degrees.

The agency is still looking at the final storm track, which will affect the type and amount of rainfall. If a storm system tracks farther north, the likelihood of high snowfall amounts will increase, while a system farther south will decrease the likelihood.

NWS Louisville meteorologist Brian Neudorf said the overall chance of a wintry mix for the Louisville area on Jan. 20 is “very low.”

Meteorologists are currently unsure of the exact amount of snowfall, but models indicate a “large spread” of snowfall. Parts of southern Indiana and central Kentucky have a 50-70% chance of more than 8 inches of snow and a 30-50% chance of seeing more than 12 inches, according to the latest forecast. Residents may see “many disruptions” to daily life, including dangerous or impossible driving conditions and widespread closures and disruptions to infrastructure, officials said.

“Think about looking through a telescope or binoculars—you have to dial in the focus. That’s kind of what the model does,” Neudorff said. “We’re basically trying, as we get closer, to dial in and see the picture. It’s less blurry. It’s clearer.”

Sleet and ice accumulation has increased in some areas of southern Kentucky, although the pattern could change in the coming days, officials said.

Preparing for winter storms with Louisville road treatments

Louisville’s Metro Snow Crew is ready to take on the weekend snow showers with its plows and salt trucks, Department of Transportation Director Bill Bell said Jan. 21.

“It looks like there’s not going to be any ice and it’s just going to be snow, which is a good thing,” Bell said at an afternoon news conference.

Louisville recently added about 500 tons to its supply and its salt dome is now about two-thirds full, Bell said. The city has funds to replenish the reserve if needed.

Crews laying brine, a liquid mixture of salt and water, on January 20 in anticipation of winter. Brine is used before storms to help keep snow and ice from sticking to pavements, making later plowing and salting more efficient.

“We’ve done more brine over the last six weeks,” Bell said. “That’s one of the things that the consultants suggested to us, among other recommendations that we’ve followed.”

More information about Louisville’s preparedness, including a live Metro Snow Team map, can be found on the city’s Department of Public Works website.

Louisville weather forecast

January 21

A chance of rain and snow before 12:00 PM will be cloudy from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, with a high near 41 degrees and gusts up to 24 mph. Chance of rain is 50%. Less than half an inch of snow may accumulate during the day.

Mostly cloudy in the evening, then gradually clearing, with a low around 28 degrees and a southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.

January 22

It will be mostly sunny, with a high near 38 degrees and a west wind 3 to 5 mph. At night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low around 20 degrees and a calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.

January 23

It will be mostly cloudy and cool, with a high near 24 degrees. At night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a minimum around 8 degrees.

January 24

A chance of snow, mainly cloudy and cold after 1pm, with a high near 17 degrees. Chance of rain is 60%.

At night, there will be snow, and the low will be around 13 degrees. Chance of rain is 80%.

January 25

A 30% chance of snow, mainly before 1pm It will be mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 22 degrees. At night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a minimum around 9 degrees.