This winter storm occurring on December 4th and December 5th was the first of the season for eastern Kentucky.  This storm system tracked across the southern United States, spreading precipitation as far north as the Ohio Valley.  Snow began on the morning of December 4th, dumping 3 to 5 inches of snow southwest of a line from Mount Vernon to Harlan by around noon, with generally 2 inches or less occurring northeast of this line.  Some freezing rain and sleet began on the afternoon of December 4th in southern parts of eastern Kentucky, but was not nearly as significant as the sleet and ice accumulations in east central Kentucky.  Heavy snow began falling for counties in the northern portion of eastern Kentucky on the night of December 4th, producing the highest snow amount of 8 inches in Fleming County.  Up to three quarters of an inch of ice was reported in McCreary County among other locations receiving between 1/4 and 1/2 of an inch.  One indirect death and 2 indirect injuries occurred due to traffic accidents involving slick roads.  There were several vehicular accidents due to slick roads.  This storm finally moved out of the area with precipitation tapering to flurries by noon December 5th.

Heavy Snow in WHITLEY, KENTUCKY
From 04-DEC-02 12:04:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

5 inches of snow was reported.

Heavy Snow in FLEMING, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 03:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

8 inches of snow was reported.

Ice Storm in FLOYD, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 01:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

1/4 inch of ice was reported along with 3 inches of snow.

Winter Storm in LAUREL, KENTUCKY
From 04-DEC-02 13:45:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 4K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

4 inches of snow was reported.  Power lines were down due to heavy snow and some ice accumulations.

Ice Storm in BREATHITT, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 01:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 1K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

1/4 inch of ice was reported.  Trees and power lines were down.

Ice Storm in MORGAN, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 00:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

1/2 inch of ice was reported.

Ice Storm in ELLIOTT, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 02:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

1/2 inch of ice was reported.

Ice Storm in POWELL, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 00:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

1/4 inch of ice was reported.

Heavy Snow in CLAY, KENTUCKY
From 04-DEC-02 14:30:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 3.7K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

4 inches of snow was reported.  Power lines were down.

Winter Storm in JOHNSON, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 01:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 1.6K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

One inch of sleet and ice was reported.  Power lines, poles, and trees were down.

Ice Storm in MARTIN, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 01:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 1K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

1/2 inch of ice was reported.  Power lines were down.

Heavy Snow in PULASKI, KENTUCKY
From 04-DEC-02 13:45:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

4 inches of snow was reported.

Heavy Snow in WAYNE, KENTUCKY
From 04-DEC-02 10:55:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

4 inches of snow was reported.

Heavy Snow in KNOX, KENTUCKY
From 04-DEC-02 14:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD

4 inches of snow was reported.

Heavy Snow in BELL, KENTUCKY
From 04-DEC-02 11:48:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

5 inches of snow was reported.

Heavy Snow in ROWAN, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 04:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

4 inches of snow was reported.

Ice Storm in MAGOFFIN, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 01:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

1/4 inch of ice was reported.

Winter Storm in MCCREARY, KENTUCKY
From 04-DEC-02 11:55:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

4 inches of snow and also 3/4 inch of ice was reported.  Heavy snow caused water damage to equipment.  This was due to a roof in the process of being prepared, with no protection from weather elements.

Heavy Snow in HARLAN, KENTUCKY
From 04-DEC-02 12:40:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

5 inches of snow was reported.

Heavy Snow in BATH, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 03:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

5 inches of snow was reported.

Ice Storm in MENIFEE, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 00:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

1/4 inch of ice was reported.

Ice Storm in OWSLEY, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 00:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 1K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

1/4 inch of ice was reported.  Power lines were down.

Ice Storm in ESTILL, KENTUCKY
From 04-DEC-02 23:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

1/2 inch of ice was reported.  Power lines were down.

Ice Storm in LEE, KENTUCKY
From 04-DEC-02 23:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

1/4 inch of ice was reported.  Power lines were down.

Heavy Snow in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 04-DEC-02 15:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

4 inches of snow was reported.

Heavy Snow in MONTGOMERY, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 02:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

6 inches of snow was reported.

Heavy Snow in JACKSON, KENTUCKY
From 04-DEC-02 14:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 1K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

4 inches of snow was reported.Power lines were down.

Ice Storm in WOLFE, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 00:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

3/8 inch of ice was reported.

Ice Storm in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 05-DEC-02 01:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 0K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

1/4 inch of ice was reported.

Heavy Snow in ROCKCASTLE, KENTUCKY
From 04-DEC-02 14:00:00 to 05-DEC-02 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 1K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

4 inches of snow was reported.  Power lines were down.