4:05pm Update:
A Flood Watch is now in effect for all of eastern Kentucky for Thursday evening through Saturday morning for the threat of heavy rainfall.
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2:30pm Update:
A Flood Watch is in effect from Thursday evening until Saturday for Logan, Mingo, Wayne, and Lawrence Counties. I expect a watch to be issued for Eastern Kentucky later tonight. I will keep you up to date.
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Several rounds of heavy rain and wintry weather looks to be on the way into the area over the next several days. This is a pattern that could take us all the way into late next week! You will want to pay close attention to the blog today for the latest on what you can expect!
Wednesday/Wednesday Night:
Wednesday will be the best day we have had in quite some time. Ahead of our next weather maker, our winds will turn from the south allowing for warm temperatures. Highs will be in the mid to upper 60’s with partly to mostly cloudy skies. If we can get just enough sunshine, a 70° reading is possible!
Overnight lows tonight will only fall into the mid 50’s with the thicker cloud cover. This is well above average for this time of the year when you consider our normal high temperature is 49°! A couple of showers are possible by the morning commute.
Thursday/Thursday Night
Latest model runs are trying to hold off the rain Thursday toward late afternoon and evening. If that happens, temperatures will be able to jump back into the upper 60’s.
Overnight Thursday night through Friday night, a steady rain will move in with some locally heavy rainfall possible. During this time frame, we could see 2″-3″ of rain. We will have to watch the creeks, streams and rivers during this time.
Friday/Friday Night:
By Friday, colder air will work into our area. Our highs will be early in the day with temperatures dropping by the afternoon and evening. By late Friday night, we will see a changeover to a little snow. I am not expecting much in the way of accumulation, but something to watch. Here is how one computer forecasting model shows this playing out. 
Saturday/Saturday Night:
I think we will see a break in the activity during the day Saturday, before another wave of precipitation moves in Saturday night. This could initially be in the form of snow, sleet, and freezing rain before turning to all rain as slightly warmer air moves in.
Sunday/Monday:
The rain Sunday will last through Monday with locally heavy rainfall possible again. We could see up to another 1″-2″ of rain. Again, this could bring yet another rise on the creeks, rivers, and streams.
This is the latest precipitation forecast from the Weather Prediction Center over the next seven days. Notice our area is under the gun for 4″-5″ of rain.
While we are having to watch for flooding, folks to our west are preparing for a potential ice and snow storm. The threat of significant ice accumulation exist generally along and south of the Ohio River.
Thursday’s Ice Outlook
Friday’s Ice Outlook
The areas in blue have at least a 10% chance of seeing 1/4″ of ice, the areas in green have at least a 40% chance of 1/4″ of ice accumulation, and the areas have at least a 70% chance of seeing more than 1/4″ of ice accumulation. A few areas may pick up near 3/4″ of ice or more before all is said and done bringing them to a standstill.
As far as the snow is concerned, folks near and north of the Ohio River will experience the most snowfall.
I am continuing to watch for some very cold air to invade much of the country, including our area, by the middle part of next week.
I will continue to watch the forecast closely and will keep you up to date with any changes that may come our way.
That is all for now! If you know of any events in your community, send them my way! You can email me at laythanhopkins@ekbradio.com.
EKB Weather 