A paralyzing winter storm dumped up to 20 inches of snow across parts of eastern Kentucky from the early morning hours of Friday January 22nd through the day on Saturday January 23rd.  The snowfall produced by the storm was the heaviest to fall across eastern Kentucky since the Blizzard of March 1993.
The storm system responsible for the east Kentucky snow originated over Texas, tracked across the Deep South and Carolinas, and finally up the East Coast. Precipitation overspread east Kentucky during the early morning hours of Friday January 22nd.  The precipitation fell as a mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow over southeast Kentucky through the morning and into the midday hours on Friday, before changing to snow Friday afternoon.  The precipitation fell as mostly snow for the remainder of the area throughout the event.  The snow fell very heavy at times during the morning and early afternoon hours on Friday, with snowfall rates of 2 or more common as a heavy snow band set up across the heart of eastern Kentucky.
The Automated Surface Observing System located at the Jackson, KY National Weather Service office reported 11 hours of continuous moderate to heavy snow with a visibility of 1/2 mile or less.  Snowfall rates were 1 to 2 inches per hour during this time.
The snow gradually diminished in intensity Friday night into Saturday morning, with the last of the snow pulling east out of the area late Saturday afternoon.  Final snowfall totals ranged from 4 to 8 inches in Knox, Bell and Harlan counties, with up to 12 to 20 inches in a strip from Hart County in central Kentucky eastward through the heart of eastern Kentucky into central West Virginia. Freezing rain accumulated up to 3/10 inch in places near the Tennessee border Friday morning, before the changeover to snow occurred.
The storm total snowfall of 18.5 from this winter storm at the National Weather Service office near Jackson, KY is the greatest January snowstorm since records began at this station in 1981.  In fact, this winter storm is 2nd only to the Blizzard of March 1993 in the station's record books as far as snowfall goes.
The storm caused major impacts across eastern Kentucky, especially with travel.  Interstate 75 was shut down in Rockcastle County at times Friday afternoon through Saturday morning due to multiple crashes leaving 3,000 people stranded in their vehicles at one time.  Power was also knocked out for thousands of customers during the peak of the storm with the hardest hit areas lying close to the Tennessee border, which experienced up to a quarter inch of ice accumulation before the changeover to snow occurred.  The weight of the snow and ice also caused some roof collapses including boat docks on Lake Cumberland and Paintsville Lake.

Winter Storm in BELL, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 01:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Public

Three to six inches of snow was reported across the county with ice amounts varying from a few hundredths of an inch up to nearly a quarter of an inch.

Winter Storm in CLAY, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 02:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Storm total snowfall accumulations around Clay county varied from 6 to 13 inches. The highest amount was recorded in Hensley, where 13 inches ended up accumulating. Manchester picked up 10 inches of snow by storms end.  Up to 2/10 inch of freezing rain also fell prior to the complete changeover to snow.

Winter Storm in HARLAN, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 01:30:00 to 23-JAN-16 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: COOP Observer

By the time the storm end late in the day on the 23rd, 4 to 10 inches of snow had fallen across the county. An area just north of the town of Harlan had the highest storm total snowfall of 10.1 inches. Freezing rain that occurred early in the morning of January 22nd left a coating of ice on tree limbs and other exposed objects.

Winter Storm in KNOTT, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 04:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Four to eight inches of snow fell across the county after up to 1/8 inch of freezing rain fell. Carrie and Redfox each received 7.5 and 8 inches of storm total snow respectively.

Winter Storm in KNOX, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 01:30:00 to 23-JAN-16 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Department of Highways

Knox county experienced periods of rain, sleet, freezing rain, and snow early on January 22nd. As of 630 am, 0.25 inches of freezing rain had accumulated on exposed objects and surfaces across the county. The precipitation changed over to snow during the late morning hours on the 22nd, with 3 to 5 inches of snow reported across the county by storms end.

Winter Storm in LAUREL, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 02:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Department of Highways

Storm total snowfall amounts around the county ranged from 6 to 12 inches, with Bunch reporting the highest total of 12 inches.  Up to a quarter inch of freezing rain also fell.

Winter Storm in LESLIE, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 02:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snow accumulations of 6 to 11 inches were reported across the county. The highest snow total occurred in Hyden, where 11 inches was recorded. Up to 3/10 of freezing rain also fell before the changeover to snow.

Winter Storm in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 02:30:00 to 23-JAN-16 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Five to nine inches of snow fell across the county after a light glaze of freezing rain. The highest snow total occurred near Ulvah, where 9 inches end up accumulating.

Winter Storm in MCCREARY, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 01:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall totals ranged from 8 to 10 inches across the county with up to a quarter inch of freezing rain also reported.

Winter Storm in PERRY, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 03:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall amounts ranged from around five inches in the south end of the county up to around 15 inches in the north end of the county near Buckhorn Lake.  There was also up to 2/10 inch of freezing rain reported before the changeover to snow took place.

Winter Storm in PULASKI, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 01:30:00 to 23-JAN-16 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Department of Highways

Countywide storm total snowfall amounts ranged from 8 to 15 inches. The highest reported snowfall amount occurred near Bee Lick, where 15 inches was measured. Up to 2/10 inch of freezing rain also occurred across parts of the county. The heavy wet snow caused the roof of an unoccupied Dollar General Store to collapse in Somerset.

Winter Storm in WAYNE, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 01:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Department of Highways

Storm total snowfall across the county ranged from 8 to 16 inches. The highest snowfall amount of 16 inches was reported 9W Monticello. Up to a quarter inch of freezing rain also occurred.

Winter Storm in WHITLEY, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 01:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snowfall amounts around the county ranged between 7 and 10 inches. The highest snowfall amount 10.3 inches was reported just northwest of Williamsburg.  Up to a quarter inch of freezing rain also fell.

Heavy Snow in ROCKCASTLE, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 02:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Storm total snowfall amounts of 12 to 15 inches were reported. The highest amounts occurred in Brodhead where 15 inches fell, and in Mount Vernon, where 14 inches was measured.  Interstate 75 was shut down in Rockcastle County at times Friday afternoon through Saturday morning due to multiple crashes leaving 3,000 people stranded in their vehicles at one time.

Heavy Snow in JACKSON, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 03:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm total snowfall amounts of 12 to 18 inches occurred around the county.

Heavy Snow in OWSLEY, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 04:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Around 20 inches of snow was reported across the county.

Heavy Snow in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 04:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The highest snowfall amount reported in Pike county was 10 inches, which occurred in both Belfry and Turkey Creek. The rest of the county picked up around 8 inches.

Heavy Snow in BREATHITT, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 05:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: NWS Employee

Snowfall amounts ranged from 11 inches in Lost Creek up to 20 inches in Lawson.  There were some reports of roof collapses in Jackson and across the county.

Heavy Snow in ESTILL, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 05:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall totals ranged from 12 to 15 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow in FLOYD, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 05:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall totals ranged from around 11 inches over the south end of the county, up to 16 inches in the north end of the county.

Heavy Snow in LEE, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 05:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall totals ranged from around 12 inches over the north end of the county, up to 18 inches around Beattyville.

Heavy Snow in MAGOFFIN, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 05:30:00 to 23-JAN-16 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall amounts ranged from 14 inches up to 17 inches.

Heavy Snow in POWELL, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 06:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall amounts ranged from 10 to 12 inches across the county.

Heavy Snow in WOLFE, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 06:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Snowfall amounts ranged from 18 to 20 inches across the county.

Heavy Snow in BATH, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 07:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall totals ranged from around 6 inches in the north end of the county up to around 12 inches at Cave Run Lake Dam.

Heavy Snow in FLEMING, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 07:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall amounts ranged from around 6 inches in the northwest part of the county up to 10 inches in the Sharkey community.

Heavy Snow in JOHNSON, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 07:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall totals ranged from 13 inches up to around 18 inches.

Heavy Snow in MARTIN, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 07:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Around 16 inches of snow fell across the county.

Heavy Snow in MONTGOMERY, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 07:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall totals ranged from 8 to 11 inches.

Heavy Snow in MORGAN, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 07:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Snowfall totals ranged from around 12 inches up to 21 inches near Mize.

Heavy Snow in MENIFEE, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 07:30:00 to 23-JAN-16 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall of around 16 inches fell across the county.

Heavy Snow in ROWAN, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 07:30:00 to 23-JAN-16 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Snowfall totals ranged from 9 to 11 inches across the county.

Heavy Snow in ELLIOTT, KENTUCKY
From 22-JAN-16 08:00:00 to 23-JAN-16 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Snowfall totals ranged from 9 inches up to 15 inches, with the highest amounts in the east end of the county.