Heavy snow developed across eastern Kentucky on Thursday, January 6th as a potent low pressure system developed over the Deep South in the morning, rode up the spine of the southern Appalachians during the afternoon, and off to the northeast Thursday night - a climatologically favored track for heavy snow accumulations across eastern Kentucky. The first flakes reached the I-75 corridor by mid morning and spread eastward across the remainder of the area by early afternoon. Snowfall rates of 1 per hour or more were observed during a majority of the event.
The nearly perfect combination of cold temperatures at the surface and aloft led to dry, fluffy snow-to-liquid ratios mostly between 12-15:1 and storm total accumulations on the order of 4 to 9 inches by the time snow tapered off late Thursday evening. The dry nature of the snow prevented any significant issues with downed trees and power lines. However, the warm roads, due to mild weather in recent weeks, partially melted the snow as it fell, leading to a slippery, slushy mess on area roadways. The most notable incident was a 50 to 75 vehicle pileup on I-64 near the Montgomery/Clark County line. Martin County also closed all county highways during the event. The hazardous travel contributed to many single vehicle incidents across eastern Kentucky.

Heavy Snow in CLAY, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 13:40:00 to 06-JAN-22 17:28:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The city of Manchester reached 5.0 inches of snowfall at 5:28 PM EST.

Heavy Snow in HARLAN, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 13:40:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:10:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The Department of Highways reported 6.0 inches of storm total snowfall 1 mile east of Black Mountain. The remainder of the county averaged between 5.0 and 6.0 inches based on reports from the Department of Highways.

Heavy Snow in KNOTT, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 14:40:00 to 06-JAN-22 17:51:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A storm total report of 4.0 inches was received from the State Police Patrol Post in Hindman, KY at 5:57 PM EST.

Heavy Snow in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 15:10:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:10:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A maximum storm total snowfall amount of 6.0 inches was reported in Pikeville, KY from the 911 Call Center. Elsewhere across the county, amounts ranged from 3 inches (3 miles west of Mouthcard) to 6 inches.

Heavy Snow in WAYNE, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 09:20:00 to 06-JAN-22 17:11:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Monticello reported 4.5 inches of storm total snowfall as of 5:11 PM EST.

Heavy Snow in POWELL, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 10:10:00 to 06-JAN-22 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

As of 2:10 PM EST, an NWS Employee measured 4.6 inches 1 mile WSW of Stanton, with snow still falling. An hour later, totals were ranging between 4.3 inches (community of Nada) and 6.0 inches (1 mile S of Stanton). By the end of the event, 7.3 inches of storm total snowfall was reported 1 mile WSW of Stanton.

Heavy Snow in MONTGOMERY, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 10:30:00 to 06-JAN-22 19:50:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Just before 3:00 PM EST, the community of Oggs Station had a report of 5.5 inches of snow. By the end of the event, they had accumulated a storm total snowfall of 7.6 inches.

Heavy Snow in ROWAN, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 11:00:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:45:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Maximum snowfall amount of 6.8 inches was reported in Hilda, KY. One mile south of Morehead had a similar amount of 6.0 inches.

Heavy Snow in WHITLEY, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 11:10:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:45:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A storm total snowfall of 5.0 inches was reported in 1 mile northeast of Corbin. Elsewhere, Clio reported 4.5 inches of storm total snowfall.

Heavy Snow in MAGOFFIN, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 13:40:00 to 06-JAN-22 17:39:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hendricks measured 5.5 inches of storm total snowfall through 5:39 PM EST on January 6. Another similar report of 5.0 inches was received out of the Gunlock Community at 5:00 PM EST.

Heavy Snow in ELLIOTT, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 11:50:00 to 06-JAN-22 17:33:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

The Elliott County 911 Dispatch Center in Sandy Hook reported 6.0 inches of snowfall as of 5:33 PM EST.

Heavy Snow in MENIFEE, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 11:40:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:13:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

A Storm total snowfall of 6.5 inches was reported in Frenchburg, KY by the fire department.

Heavy Snow in ROCKCASTLE, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 12:00:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:01:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

The Rockcastle County Dispatch Center in Mount Vernon had received 4.5 inches of snowfall 6:01 PM EST.

Heavy Snow in FLEMING, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 10:50:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:37:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported 4.0 inches of storm total snowfall through 6:37 PM EST, located 3 miles west of Wallingford.

Heavy Snow in OWSLEY, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 13:40:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:12:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A storm total snowfall of 4.3 inches was reported in Chestnut Gap, KY from an emergency manager. Snow was fairly uniform throughout the county.

Heavy Snow in JACKSON, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 13:00:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:20:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The maximum snowfall report for the event was in Sandgap, where 6.0 inches was reported by the Department of Highways. Meanwhile, McKee had received 5.0 inches at the same report time.

Heavy Snow in LESLIE, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 14:00:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:22:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A spotter located 1 mile ESE of Kaliopi measured 5.5 inches of storm total snowfall at 6:22 PM EST.

Heavy Snow in LEE, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 13:00:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:22:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A maximum snowfall report of 6.0 inches was measured in Beattyville, KY by the 911 Call Center.

Heavy Snow in BELL, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 12:00:00 to 06-JAN-22 17:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Both a public reporter in the community of Stony Fork and a trained spotter in Beverly reported 4.0 inches of storm total snowfall. Stony Fork reported 4 inches as of 5:30 PM EST, while Beverly reached that amount approximately an hour earlier.

Heavy Snow in BATH, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 10:00:00 to 06-JAN-22 15:53:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Storm total snow for Bath County, KY measured an average of 4.0 inches for the county. There were reports from the emergency manager that 25 to 30 cars went off the road on Interstate 64 through the county.

Heavy Snow in MCCREARY, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 11:00:00 to 06-JAN-22 17:05:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The maximum storm total snowfall amount reported was 5.5 inches in Whitley City, KY from a member of the public.

Heavy Snow in MORGAN, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 12:10:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:11:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A storm total snowfall amount of 6.0 inches was reported in West Liberty, KY from a 911 Call Center. Much of Morgan County averaged around 6 inches as well.

Heavy Snow in BREATHITT, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 12:30:00 to 06-JAN-22 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Maximum storm total snowfall of 6.5 inches reported at 1 mile S of Paxton, KY from an NWS employee. Storm total snowfall averaged between 5.5 inches and 6.5 inches across the county. The National Weather Service office also reported 5.7 inches of storm total snowfall.

Heavy Snow in KNOX, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 13:00:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:05:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A public observer in the community of Bimble reported 6.5 inches of snow as of 6:05 PM EST.

Heavy Snow in JOHNSON, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 13:20:00 to 06-JAN-22 19:20:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The maximum snowfall report was 7.8 inches, coming from both Paintsville and 1 mile SW of Hager Hill.

Heavy Snow in ESTILL, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 11:20:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The maximum snowfall for the event was 8.5 inches, measured 1 mile SSE of Spout Springs by a member of the public. Other reports across the county also topped 7.0 inches, including a measurement of 7.0 inches from an Emergency Manager in Irvine.

Heavy Snow in WOLFE, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 12:30:00 to 06-JAN-22 16:31:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Maximum storm total snowfall amount of 6.0 inches was reported in Toliver, KY from an NWS employee. Much of the county averaged around the same amount.

Heavy Snow in PULASKI, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 11:20:00 to 06-JAN-22 19:09:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A maximum snowfall amount of 7.0 inches was reported in Quinton, KY from a public report.  Storm total snowfall averaged 6.0 to 7.0 inches through the county.

Heavy Snow in MARTIN, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 13:30:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Dispatch and Emergency Management reported a storm total snowfall of 7.0 inches in the community of Inez. Meanwhile, an hour before, the community of Warfield reported 6.0 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow in LETCHER, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 14:30:00 to 06-JAN-22 19:22:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

A maximum snowfall amount of 6.5 inches was reported 1 mile N of Oven Fork, along the crest of Pine Mountain on US-119 by the Dept. of Highway. Meanwhile, a trained spotter located 1 mile NNW of Farraday received 4.5 inches as of 7:22 PM EST.

Heavy Snow in LAUREL, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 12:40:00 to 06-JAN-22 18:52:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

East Bernstadt saw a storm total snowfall of 6.6 inches by Thursday evening.  Totals ranged between 5.8 and 6.6 inches throughout the county.

Heavy Snow in PERRY, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 14:30:00 to 06-JAN-22 17:50:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

A maximum snowfall amount of 4.0 inches was reported in Frew/Big Creek, KY from an amateur radio report. Another 4.0 inch report was received from the Perry County 911 at 5:30 PM EST.

Heavy Snow in FLOYD, KENTUCKY
From 06-JAN-22 14:40:00 to 06-JAN-22 19:45:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

At 5:00pm EST, a trained spotter located 1 mile West of Dotson had received 4.0 inches. By 7:45pm EST, the same location had accumulated another 3.5 inches, bringing their storm total snowfall to 7.4 inches. Just down the road, a cooperative observer located 2 miles ENE of Dotson received 7.1 inches of snow. The community of Harold also reported a storm total snowfall of 6.0 inches.