December 21-23, 2004
Ohio Valley Winter Storm

General Storm Evolution | Radar Animations | Snowfall Total Maps | Satellite Imagery

Tuesday December 21 | Wednesday December 22 | Thursday December 23 |

 
Return Home
Return to Analysis Page
 
Historic Winter Storm Event

 

Lone Oak, Kentucky

NWS Paducah, Kentucky

 
Chase Target:  Paducah, Kentucky
Driving Time: 0 Hours
Storm Rating 

 
Chase Forecast:
 

This was an easy storm for me to track and photograph.  It was right in my backyard!  This was a long duration weather event spanning over three days.  December 21st through the 23rd.  During that time copious amounts of precipitation fell across the Ohio Valley.  Most of that precipitation came in the form of freezing rain, sleet, and snow. This storm ended up producing the heaviest snowfall ever recorded in Paducah, Kentucky.  The same would be repeated in other communities up and down the Ohio River Valley.  Many areas saw snowfall totals from 1 to 2 feet.  High winds also accompanied the winter storm.  Sustained winds of over 20 miles per hour with frequent gusts to 40+ mph were reported in many areas.  This led to severe blowing and drifting snow.  This winter storm cost the nation over $703,000,000 dollars in damage and lost business expenses. 

The initial area of low pressure was not overly impressive with this winter storm.  However, what made this event so spectacular was the amount of moisture pulled into the Ohio Valley and the fact that there were several rounds of heavy snow and ice over the same locations.  There were two notable events, across Western Kentucky, during a 48+ hour period.  Both brought heavy snowfall.  Many areas east of Paducah experienced a significant ice storm.

My initial forecast called for rain changing to heavy snow with total accumulations of between 8-10 inches here in Paducah.  We actually ended up with more than 12 inches.  Portions of McCracken County reported 14 inches of snow. 
 

 

Surface Map
December 20, 2004

Surface Map
December 21, 2004


Surface Map
December 22, 2004

Surface Map
December 23, 2004

 

Tuesday, December 21st.  Day 1 of the event.

On Tuesday area residents waited for what forecasters were calling a potentially historic winter storm event for the City of Paducah.  National Weather Service forecasters and area media warned residents that a significant ice and snow event would be possible during the next 24-36 hours.  Nobody fully expected the extreme snowfall amounts that would eventually blanket the region.  During most of Tuesday one would have been hard pressed to even believe the forecasters.  Paducah was located on the warm side of a frontal system.  Temperatures across the entire region were in the 50s. The high in Paducah was 52 degrees around three in the afternoon.  Snow was the furthest thing from most peoples mind as everyone was trying to finish their Christmas shopping, preparing their houses for the arrival of friends and family, or readying their cars for the long drive to relatives to celebrate the holidays.  Unfortunately, many of them would see their plans disrupted.

By late afternoon it was becoming more obvious that a change in the weather was already underway.  Clear skies clouded over after the lunch hour.  Clouds would continue to lower and thicken through the afternoon.  A cold rain began to fall during the early evening hours.  By 8 p.m. moderate to heavy rain was falling here in Lone Oak.  One last trip to Wal-Mart, at 10:30 p.m., provided myself an opportunity to watch (feel) the frontal passage.  Within a 30 minute period the temperatures fell abruptly and winds became strong and gusty from the North/Northeast.  Cape Girardeau was already reporting frozen precipitation at 11 p.m.  Paducah would remain in rain for a few more hours.  Precipitation, for the day (all liquid), would total around three quarters of an inch.

 

December 21st Winter Storm Watches were posted for our entire
region.

Tuesday evening temperatures began to fall rapidly behind the frontal system.

The evening weather map showed the cold front draped across the KPAH region.

Evening SurfaceWeather Map - showed the fronts draped across our region.
 

December 22nd Precip
Total Amounts

December 23rd Precip
Total Amounts

December 24th Precip
Total Amounts

December 25th Precip
Total Amounts
 
 

24 Hour Precip Total Ending 7 a.m.
December 21st

24 Hour Precip Total Ending 7 a.m.
December 22nd

24 Hour Precip Total Ending 7 a.m.
December 23rd
 
 

Wednesday, December 22nd.  Day 2 of the event.

During the overnight hours of the 21st and into the morning of the 22nd Paducah, Kentucky residents would see significant changes in their weather conditions.  Rain would turn to freezing rain and sleet by 2 a.m.  This would then change to snow by 3 a.m.  The snow would continue to fall until 10 a.m. that morning.  Moderate snow fell between 6 and 8 a.m.   Heavy snow was reported at Barkley Region Airport, in Paducah, at 8 a.m.  The first round of precipitation brought four to five inches of snow to McCracken County.  Areas around Paducah received between one and thirteen inches (more to the north and west than to the east and south).  This snow caused havoc with area traffic.  Numerous accidents were reported across the four state region.  This would be the first round of heavy snow that would move through Paducah (as you can see on the long duration radar animation).

When I first awoke, around 6 a.m., I was a bit disappointed by the amount of snow that had fallen.  We had received barely a dusting of sleet and snow.  It would take a few more hours to see significant accumulations across the county.  By the time I headed out, around 9 a.m., three to four inches of snow had fallen across Paducah.   Snow plows were out in full force.  Roads were snow and ice packed.  By noon the snow had ended but skies remained mostly cloudy.  By late afternoon clouds would again rapidly lower as more precipitation moved in from the south and west.  Radar indicated an explosion of precipitation across the Mississippi Valley in response to a developing area of low pressure moving out of the Gulf of Mexico.  This low would track through Louisiana and into Central and Eastern Tennessee.  This is a classic track for winter weather across this area (West KY, Southern IL, and Southeast MO).  The storm would certainly not disappoint the winter weather enthusiasts.  Conditions would rapidly deteriorate to near blizzard conditions during the late evening hours.  Roads would become virtually impassable to normal vehicles as drifting became severe across most of the county and city roads. Snowfall rates of 1-3 inches per hour were reported across Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky.  Although temperature profiles, in Paducah, were borderline for ice almost all of the precipitation remained in the form of snow. Areas to the east were not so fortunate, as heavy ice accumulations were reported near the Kentucky Lake area and eastward.  Portions of Central Kentucky reported over one and a half inches of ice. In many areas this caused a disruption in power.

Conditions in Paducah approached blizzard conditions during the evening hours of the 22nd.  Wind gusted over 40 miles per hour, on a number of occasions, here in Lone Oak.  The National Weather Service reported gusts over 30 miles per hour at the airport.  This led to severe blowing and drifting snow.  Snow drifts in excess of four feet were noted here in Lone Oak by the midnight hour.  Driving conditions continued to worsen through the evening.  Hundreds of vehicles were abandoned on Interstate 24 across several Western Kentucky Counties because of blowing and drifting snow.  The National Guard was called out to help rescue people from their vehicles.

 
 

The early morning hours brought rapidly falling temperatures to our entire region.

2 a.m. Radar shows the rain/snow line just north of Paducah.

WeatherTap zoomed radar image.  Widespread precipitation.

6:45 a.m. KPAH Radar.  Moderate snow falling in Paducah
 

9 p.m. WeatherTap Winter Precip Radar.  Heavy snow was falling over Paducah, Kentucky

9 p.m. WeatherTap Winter Precip Radar.  Heavy snow was falling over Paducah, Kentucky

Winter Storm Watches and Warnings covered a large portion of the Ohio Valley on 12/22.

Winter Storm Watches and Warnings covered a large portion of the Ohio Valley also on 12/23
 
 

500 mb Trough Covering the Central United States

Weak Storm System Pulling out of the Gulf of Mexico

Bitterly Cold Arctic Air Covers the Snow Pack Area

Just a bit of snow had fallen by first light.
 

December 21, 2004
Radar Animation
Paducah, Kentucky - NWS

December 22, 2004
Radar Animation

Paducah, Kentucky - NWS

December 23, 2004
Radar Animation

Paducah, Kentucky - NWS

December 21-23, 2004
Radar Animation
Paducah, Kentucky - NWS
 

December 21, 2004
 Radar Animation
Louisville, Kentucky NWS

December 22-23, 2004
 Radar Animation
Louisville, Kentucky NWS

December 21-23, 2004
Radar Animation
Louisville, Kentucky - NWS
 

December 22, 2004
3 Hour Radar Animation - KLVX

December 21-23, 2004
National Radar Animation
 
 

Thursday, December 23rd. Day 3 of the event.

Snow would slowly taper off overnight and into the morning hours of the 23rd.  By this time the one/two punch had brought the entire region to a stand still.  Virtually every business was closed.  Streets were nearly impassable in many areas.  Temperatures would fall into the single digits during the coming days (and even below zero for some). This would be one of the whitest and coldest Christmas Eve and Christmas Days in recent memory.  Most of the photographs that I took were taken during the morning hours of the 23rd.  It was difficult to get around due to the unplowed roadways.  It would take most of the day for state officials to clear the streets.  Dump trucks were brought into downtown Paducah to remove the snow.  Interstate 24 would remain closed most of the morning because of hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles that had been abandoned.  Drivers who abandoned their cars during the overnight hours had to walk to nearby houses to seek shelter from the cold.  A State of Emergency was eventually declared for all of Kentucky. 
 
This storm impacted the KPAH Region in many different ways.  A number of roofs caved in, Interstate 24 was shut down as hundreds of cars were abandoned, hundreds of businesses had to close (during the height of the Christmas Shopping Season).  It is difficult to estimate the total economic impact of this winter storm across the nation.  Estimates have ranged in excess of 700,000,000 dollars.
 
 

Average Temp Departure for December.  You can see the snow pack area.

Average Temperature Departure for December 22nd through the 31st

Average Temp Departure for December 22nd through the 27th. 

Bitterly cold air poured  into the Ohio Valley following the storm system.

 

Total Precip Departure for Dec 22-31.  Extremely high readings across this region.

Average Snowfall Departure for December.  Extremely high readings across this region.


December 24th morning low temperatures were below zero across large areas of the U.S.  

By December 30th temperatures had rapidly rebounded across the same areas.
 
 
| KPAH METAR Dec 21 | KPAH METAR Dec 22 | KPAH METAR Dec 23 |
 
Paducah Meteogram 21st-23rd
 
12/20 - 12/25 Paducah, Kentucky, NWS Area Forecast Discussions
12/20 - 12/25 Louisville, Kentucky, NWS Area Forecast Discussions
12/20 - 12/25 Indianapolis, Indiana, NWS Area Forecast Discussions
12/20 - 12/25 Wilmington, Ohio, NWS Area Forecast Discussions
 
 
500 mb Maps.  December 20th through December 25th
 

500mb Map
December 20

500mb Map
December 21

500mb Map
December 22

500mb Map
December 23

 
 

500mb Map
December 24

 

500mb Map
December 25

 
 
 
Storm Prediction Center Mesoscale Discussions
December 21st through December 23rd
 

December 21st - 6:30 p.m. Mesoscale Discussion

December 22nd - 1:00 a.m. Mesoscale Discussion

December 22nd - 5:00 a.m. Mesoscale Discussion

December 22nd - 12:00 p.m. Mesoscale Discussion

 

December 22nd - 12:15 p.m. Mesoscale Discussion

December 22nd - 6:15 p.m. Mesoscale Discussion

December 23rd - 12:57 a.m. Mesoscale Discussion

December 23rd - 6:00 a.m. Mesoscale Discussion

 
 

12/21/04 00z Surface Map

12/21/04 12z Surface Map

12/22/04 00z Surface Map

12/22/04 12z Surface Map

 

12/23/04 00z Surface Map

12/23/04 12z Surface Map

12/24/04 00z Surface Map

12/24/04 12z Surface Map
 
 

12/21/04 00z
4 Panel Midwest
Winter Maps

12/21/04 12z
4 Panel Midwest
Winter Maps

12/22/04 00z
4 Panel Midwest
Winter Maps

12/22/04 12z
4 Panel Midwest
Winter Maps

 

12/23/04 00z
4 Panel Midwest
Winter Maps

12/23/04 00z
4 Panel Midwest
Winter Maps

12/24/04 00z
4 Panel Midwest
Winter Maps
 
 
Bitterly Cold Air Swept in Behind the Storm System
Daily High and Low Temperature Maps 12/20-12/27

December 20 Max/Min Temperatures

December 21 Max/Min Temperatures

December 22 Max/Min Temperatures

December 23 Max/Min Temperatures

 

December 24 Max/Min Temperatures

December 25 Max/Min Temperatures

December 26 Max/Min Temperatures

December 27 Max/Min Temperatures

 
 
Location of Heavy Snow/Ice Areas -- NWS Maps
 

Snowfall and Ice Totals
Image provided by Paducah, Kentucky, NWS

Snowfall and Ice Totals
Image provided by Louisville, Kentucky, NWS

   
 

Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and
Kentucky Snowfall Totals.
Image provided by Lincoln, NWS
 

IndianaSnowfall and Ice Totals
Image provided by Indianapolis, NWS 

 

Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky
Snowfall Totals
Image provided by Wilmington, NWS
 

Southeast Michigan Snowfall Totals
Image provided by Detroit, NWS 

 


Pre-Christmas Storm
Snowfall Totals
Image provided by the Storm Prediction Center


Pre-Christmas Storm
Snowfall Totals/Thundersnow
Image provided by the Storm Prediction Center
 
 
ARCHIVED SNOWFALL TOTALS - CASE STUDY FROM MRCC
 
Paducah, NWS Snowfall Totals (Text)
Louisville, NWS Snowfall Totals (Text)
 
 

Satellite Images -- NOAA

 

Ohio Valley Enhanced

 

Color Enhanced

 

 

Large Northern Hemisphere
WaterVapor Image

 

Enhanced Water Vapor Image


 

 

Central U.S. Zoomed
Water Vapor

 

Illinois Water Vapor

 

 

Ohio Valley Water Vapor

 

Eastern U.S. Enhanced

 

 

Michigan Water Vapor

 

Northeast U.S. Thunderstorms

 

 

Michigan Water Vapor

 

Northeast U.S. Thunderstorms

 

 

Michigan Water Vapor

 

Northeast U.S. Thunderstorms

 

 

December 23rd Winter Storm

 

December 23rd Winter Storm World View

 

 

Visible Image showing the Snow Cover
across the Ohio Valley

 

 
 
Top of Page
 

General Storm Evolution | Daily Highlights | Snowfall Total Maps | Satellite Imagery

 

Back to Weather Photography Home Page

 

Page design inspired by cimss.ssec.wisc.edu

Please notify me of any errors on this page.