Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Louisville, KY
Issued by NWS Louisville, KY
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664 FXUS63 KLMK 041728 AFDLMK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Louisville KY 1228 PM EST Thu Dec 4 2025 ...Updated Aviation Discussion... .KEY MESSAGES... * Brief light snow or flurries possible this morning across southern IN and northern KY. No accumulation is expected. * Another weak system moves through the TN/OH Valley tonight, which will bring light snow and mixed precip to south-central and southeastern Kentucky. Light snow accumulations under half an inch forecast. * Messy weather pattern will continue through mid next week, where light precip will be possible. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1130 AM EST Thu Dec 4 2025 Low-level moisture under a stout inversion has allowed for low stratus to remain over the region, despite northerly / northwesterly surface flow. Weak vorticity lobes are streaming over the region this afternoon, which may helps to squeeze some light flurries. This has been noted on radar with light returns over southern Indiana at this hour. For this reason, have added flurries into the forecast for the next few hours. After analyzing the 12Z and recent Hi-Res guidance, there has been a trend for higher snow totals for tonight in most deterministic and ensemble models. This makes sense given the location of the system, which will bring low-level convergence along the inverted surface trough and low-mid level frontogenesis. These will bring lift to increased low-level moisture (0.75-0.9 inch PWATs), and allow for moderate snowfall. In our very far SE counties (Monroe, Clinton, Cumberland, and Russell) we could see around an 1 of snowfall. Will increase the snow totals in the forecast now. Will likely issue a Winter Weather Advisory for these counties and surround them with an SPS. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Issued at 352 AM EST Thu Dec 4 2025 Regional radar early this morning shows some light snow bands tracking across portions of central Indiana and Ohio, which is being driven by an area of weak 850mb frontogenesis and an approaching cold front. While chances remain rather low, we could see some light snow across our far northern portion of the CWA, and perhaps some snow flurries as far south as the Ohio River. Little to no accumulation is expected across southern IN, as we have some mid- level dry air working in our favor, evident by ACARS soundings early this morning. If are able to produce some very minor accumulations, the best chances will be for Washington, Scott, and Jefferson counties in Indiana. We`ll see this activity end around or maybe even before 12z this morning. For the daylight hours today, expect another bitter cold and cloudy day as the cold front passes through the region and provides a reinforcing CAA regime as strong sfc high pressure filters in across the Midwest. Temps will struggle to get above freezing for many today, but the best chance for above freezing temps will be across south-central Kentucky. For tonight, a sfc low will track across the Gulf Coast, which will support showers and storms for the Deep South. An inverted sfc trough and associated plume of moisture will extend northward into the TN and OH Valleys, aiding in additional forcing for some overnight precip chances. We`ll likely see light precip begin to enter our south-central KY counties around 00z, with sfc temps potentially hovering just above freezing. However, model soundings suggest decent saturation through -20C or so, which will be enough for dendrite growth. We expect to see light snow for tonight and into early Friday morning, mainly from a line from Bowling Green to Richmond that points east. While light snow will be the primary p- type, there could be some brief instances of wintry mix. However, this wave of wintry weather appears to be sub-advisory, with just some minor snow accumulations of a few tenths forecast. Despite the minor snow amounts, there could be some slick spots in our southeast for Friday morning, with the best chance for impacts being the typical bridges and overpasses. Something to keep an eye on, but there are no plans for a headline at this time. Other than the snow chances tonight for our southeast, cold temps are forecast region-wide. Areas north of the KY Pkwys are expected to drop into the upper teens tonight, and mid-20s for areas south. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 352 AM EST Thu Dec 4 2025 ===== Friday - Friday Night ===== Progressive zonal flow continues on Friday, with the 150kt speed max core within the upper jet directly overhead during the morning. We could have some low-end lingering PoPs across Lake Cumberland for the morning hours, but an overall drier trend is expected for the day, with partial clearing of cloud cover as sfc high pressure builds to our southwest. Temps will remain below normal, with highs only reaching the upper 30s to low 40s. Dry weather continues for Friday night, with cloud cover likely building back over the region. Temps are forecast to bottom out in the 20s. ===== Weekend - Next Week ===== Dry weather will likely continue for the start of the weekend, with progressive upper flow and sfc high pressure across the area. Saturday may feature slightly stronger WAA with SW sfc flow, which could end up supporting our first day of temps returning to the 40s across the majority of the forecast area. Precip chances look to make a return by late Saturday night and throughout Sunday as a mid-level impulse embedded within the westerly flow pivots across the center of the country. At the sfc, a cold front will approach the region by Sunday, but it could end up being somewhat moisture-starved. We have some precip chances in the forecast to close out the weekend, which may end up being a messy p- type event for Sunday and into early Monday morning. However, QPF and any wintry accums looks to be very light at this time. Dry weather looks likely again for Monday and Tuesday of next week, though a bit more breezy on Tuesday as the sfc pressure gradient tightens and we get squeezed between sfc high pressure to our southeast and another approaching cold front to our northwest. By Wednesday of next week, we look to finally return back to normal temps with highs reaching the low 50s,but that will be accompanied by some decent rain chances. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 1228 PM EST Thu Dec 4 2025 Low-level moisture under an inversion has allowed for low stratus to remain over the region. Continuing to see high-end IFR and low-end MVFR this afternoon. May see brief high-end BKN skies over the northern terminals towards sunset. A system will move through southern Kentucky, bringing snow showers to the southern terminals. Snowfall could be moderate at times and reduce visibilities. CIGs and VIS will begin to improve by mid-morning on Friday. && .LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KY...None. IN...None. && $$ UPDATE...SRW SHORT TERM...CJP LONG TERM...CJP AVIATION...SRW