Significant ice accumulations could be the greatest concern for Owensboro-Daviess County as a major winter storm moves into the area late Saturday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Paducah. Residents are urged to prepare for hazardous conditions, including treacherous travel and possible power outages.
The storm is expected to bring a mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow, with freezing rain becoming the primary concern locally. Ice accumulations could reach significant levels, potentially exceeding a quarter-inch in some areas. Combined with gusty winds, this amount of ice could bring down tree limbs and power lines, leading to localized outages.
Freezing rain is expected to begin late Saturday night, with ice accumulation likely to exceed a quarter-inch in many areas. By Sunday afternoon, precipitation may become heavy, with freezing rain persisting before transitioning to sleet and snow as temperatures drop.
Snowfall totals are projected to range from 2 to 4 inches in some locations by the time the storm ends late Sunday night into early Monday morning.
The combination of ice and snow could cause severe travel disruptions and localized power outages, especially in areas where ice accumulations are greatest. The NWS also notes that storm models remain inconsistent, with a southward shift in the system potentially leading to colder conditions and higher snow totals.
Residents should monitor updates as the forecast evolves and stay off the roads once conditions deteriorate.
Information was gathered from multiple forecasts and messages from the National Weather Service.
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