From October 28-30 2012, the remnants of Hurricane Sandy merged with a large mid-latitude cyclone over the northeastern United States. This hybrid storm produced a very heavy snowfall all along the central Appalachian Mountains, including portions of eastern Kentucky.
Precipitation type from this system was heavily elevation dependent. Nearly continuous rain fell over the far eastern part of Kentucky beginning as early as Saturday October 27th.  The rain began to change over to a heavy, wet snow as early as the afternoon hours of Sunday October 28th when snow first began accumulating on top of Black Mountain at around 4000 ft. elevation.  The snow levels then lowered gradually over the next 24 hours, with 4 of snow reported at 2800 ft. elevation near Dorton in Pike County by the late afternoon hours on Monday October 29th.  The snow then made it down to the valleys of east Kentucky during the overnight hours Monday night and Tuesday morning.  The snow then quickly changed back to rain on Tuesday below 2000 ft. elevation, but remained as snow above 2000 ft. through Wednesday morning October 31st.
Snowfall accumulations were highly variable across east Kentucky, ranging from nothing up to 18.  Most lower elevation locations below 1500 ft. received light accumulations.  Amounts quickly escalated above 1500 ft. however with 12 to 18 reported above 2000 ft.  The highest report received was from a trained weather spotter at 2400 ft. elevation on Pine Mountain in Letcher County with 18 of snow.  Based on reports received from similar elevations in southwest Virginia, it is likely up to 2 feet of snow accumulated at the top of Black Mountain, above 4000 ft. elevation.
The heavy, wet snow on the ridges downed trees and power lines.  On the morning of Tuesday October 30th, it was estimated that around 10,000 east Kentucky residents were without power.  Also, travel across the higher terrain was very difficult Monday night and Tuesday with near impassable conditions reported at times on Hwy 23 over Pound Gap and on Hwy 160 crossing Black Mountain.
The storm system also dumped heavy amounts of precipitation across the region with 2 to 4 inches of liquid precipitation observed over much of east Kentucky between Saturday October 27th and Wednesday October 31st.  Luckily, dry antecedant conditions and the prolonged nature of the precipitation allowed everything to runoff without creating any flood problems.

Winter Weather in HARLAN, KENTUCKY
From 28-OCT-12 11:00:00 to 29-OCT-12 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

An estimated two inches of snow had fallen where Hwy 160 crosses Big Black Mountain above Lynch at an elevation of 3700 feet.

Heavy Snow in HARLAN, KENTUCKY
From 28-OCT-12 11:00:00 to 29-OCT-12 22:10:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Ten inches of snow had fallen where Hwy 160 crosses Big Black Mountain at 3700 feet elevation.

Winter Weather in HARLAN, KENTUCKY
From 29-OCT-12 18:00:00 to 29-OCT-12 22:10:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Three inches of snow had fallen where US 421 crosses Pine Mountain at 2600 feet elevation.

Heavy Snow in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 29-OCT-12 19:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 04:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Five inches of snow reported in Jenkins.

Winter Weather in MENIFEE, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 05:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A tenth of an inch of snow fell in Wellington.

Winter Weather in PERRY, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 05:50:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Three inches of snow fell on Hwy 421 in Leatherwood.

Heavy Snow in HARLAN, KENTUCKY
From 28-OCT-12 11:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 05:54:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

A foot of snow had fallen where Hwy 160 crosses Black Mountain. The snow drifts at this location were up to 3 feet deep.

Winter Weather in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

An inch of snow had fallen in Skyline.

Winter Weather in ROWAN, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 02:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 08:28:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Coop observers reported from a half inch of snow near the dam on Cave Run Lake up to 2.5 inches on grassy areas around Morehead.

Winter Weather in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 03:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Two tenths of an inch of snow fell in downtown Pikeville.

Winter Weather in MARTIN, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 02:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

An inch of snow fell 2 miles east of Inez.

Winter Weather in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 29-OCT-12 22:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Two inches of snow fell 2 miles southeast of Whitesburg.

Winter Weather in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 06:55:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

An inch and a half of snow fell just southwest of Fedscreek.

Winter Weather in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 29-OCT-12 22:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Three inches of snow fell in Meta.

Winter Weather in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 29-OCT-12 22:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 08:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

An inch and a half of snow fell in Whitesburg.

Winter Weather in ELLIOTT, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 02:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Two inches of snow fell 7 miles south of Olive Hill.

Winter Weather in ROWAN, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 02:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Two to three inches of snow had fallen near the Elliott county line in the town of Elliottville. Stretches of Hwy 32 were snow covered during the event.

Winter Weather in FLEMING, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 02:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 07:18:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Two inches of snow fell in Sharkey.

Winter Weather in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 29-OCT-12 20:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 07:35:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Three inches of snow fell near Thornton at 1400 feet elevation.

Winter Weather in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 07:37:00 (EST-5)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A power line was downed by heavy wet snow at the Old Path Bible Church in Kimper.

Heavy Snow in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 29-OCT-12 16:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 07:45:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Seven inches of snow fell 4 miles southeast of Vicco at 1800 feet elevation.

Winter Weather in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 07:47:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Heavy wet snow brought down trees along Hwy 80 in Elkhorn City.

Winter Weather in KNOTT, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 02:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 08:14:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Six tenths of an inch of snow fell in Pippa Passes.

Heavy Snow in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 28-OCT-12 19:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 08:15:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Fourteen inches of snow fell at the State Line Food Mart in Payne Gap near the Kentucky Virginia state line at 2400 elevation.

Winter Weather in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 08:37:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Three inches of snow fell in Canada.

Winter Weather in MARTIN, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Two and a half inches of snow fell at the Big Sandy Regional Airport at an elevation of 1221 feet.

Heavy Snow in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 28-OCT-12 19:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 09:12:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Nine inches of snow fell outside of Blackey at an elevation of 2100 feet.

Winter Weather in BREATHITT, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 02:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

One and one-tenth inch of snow fell at the Jackson weather office at an elevation of 1358 feet.

Heavy Snow in HARLAN, KENTUCKY
From 28-OCT-12 19:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 07:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Six inches of snow was reported in the Cloverlick Community just outside of Benham at an elevation of 2310 feet.

Heavy Snow in HARLAN, KENTUCKY
From 29-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 05:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Six inches of snow had fallen on Hwy 421 where it crosses Pine Mountain.

Heavy Snow in HARLAN, KENTUCKY
From 29-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 10:55:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Nine inches of snow fell at Kingdom Come State Park.

Heavy Snow in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 28-OCT-12 19:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 08:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Eighteen inches of snow fell on the south side of Pine Mountain at an elevation of 2400 feet 4 miles southeast of Whitesburg.

Heavy Snow in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 28-OCT-12 11:00:00 to 29-OCT-12 16:05:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Five inches of snow measured at Dorton Mesonet location at 2774 feet elevation. It continued to snow heavily at the time of the measurement.

Heavy Snow in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 28-OCT-12 11:00:00 to 29-OCT-12 14:11:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A KET technician measured 3 to 4 inches of snow at the Phelps NOAA weather radio transmitter location that sits near 2800 feet elevation.

Heavy Snow in PERRY, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 08:07:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Four inches of snow measured on Hall Mountain at 1500 feet elevation. Still snowing heavily at time of observation.

Heavy Snow in PERRY, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 14:50:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Final total of six inches of snow on Hall Mountain at 1500 feet elevation.

Heavy Snow in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 30-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 07:37:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Four inches of snow fell on Hwy 319 between Belfry and Blackberry making the road impassable at times.

Winter Weather in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 29-OCT-12 20:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 08:45:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Three and a half inches of snow fell in the Fleming-Neon Community.

Winter Weather in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 29-OCT-12 19:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Three to three and a half inches of snow was estimated to have fallen near East Ridge High School at around 1600 ft. elevation.

Heavy Snow in HARLAN, KENTUCKY
From 29-OCT-12 17:00:00 to 30-OCT-12 08:45:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Four and three tenths of an inch of snow was measured along Hwy 421 on Pine Mountain at 2000 feet elevation.