Cold and Windy Night with Flurries Possible

Halloween did not get off to a good start today, weather-wise. Perhaps the ragged and gloomy clouds fit the vibe, but there was almost no sun to capture the various colors of leaves and pumpkins. Normal daytime heating was underway as usual through the morning and early afternoon, reaching a high of 51° here in Bowling Green. But that was soon dashed as a cold front plowed through from the northwest around 1:00 PM. The afternoon was left with periods of drizzles and a rapid drop in temperatures. This was accompanied by sharp frontal winds, sustained at 10-15 mph and gusting to 25-30. Needless to say, the weather was less than ideal for a good Halloween setup.

Temperatures continue to fall, but at a lower rate than this afternoon. Winds are still from the northwest and should remain so throughout tonight, bringing brisk wind chills. The National Weather Service has placed our entire region under a Freeze Warning. It appears that we will experience our first freeze of the season, which will kill any remaining crops and plants. The rain has let up for now, but our chances for precipitation are not over. We are wedged in-between a strong high pressure system over the High Plains while a mid-level low is propped over the Ohio Valley. This pressure gradient is partially responsible for the gusty winds. Of more importance, however, is the track of this low. It will move to the south-southeast and wrap additional moisture around itself in the process. Surface temperatures will be falling to at or below freezing tonight, and upper-air temperatures are already there.

With this setup in place, any precipitation that is produced by this disturbance will likely be snow, at least where temperatures will provide for it. The low will stay east of south-central Kentucky tonight, and the majority of the semi-moist air and colder temperatures will remain there. Though it may be drier where we are, flurries are still a possibility for many of us tonight. Accumulations ought to remain in the I-75 corridor, but extreme eastern fringes of our viewing area may see a couple tenths of snow. For the rest of us, flurries are not out of the question. The uncertainty at this time is how far west the moisture will track, but this is a matter of who will see flakes and who will not. Actual snow totals are applicable east of our region.

Latest thoughts from NWS Louisville concerning tonight's temperatures and snow potential

Tonight: Cold and windy with a low of 32°. Light rain and/or snowflakes are possible. Northeast winds at 15 mph, gusting to 25.
Saturday: Clearing with partly cloudy skies and a high around 47°. North winds around 10-15 mph.
Saturday night: Even colder with a low near 26°. Widespread frost expected with calm winds. Mostly clear skies.

Happy Halloween!
- Caleb Chevalier