Paducah, KY – A Winter Storm Watch is now in effect for much of southern Illinois, western Kentucky, southeast Missouri, and southwest Indiana, as forecasters warn a major winter storm could bring widespread snow, ice, and hazardous travel beginning late Friday night.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, confidence is growing that many areas within the watch zone will see at least 4 inches of snow, with some locations potentially exceeding 5 inches by the time the system exits Sunday afternoon.
The storm is expected to create significant travel disruptions, particularly on major highways and rural roads. Forecasters say heavy snow probabilities are trending upward, while the highest icing potential is focused along the Kentucky–Tennessee border, where mixed precipitation could worsen road conditions.
Dry air to the north may result in a sharp cutoff in snowfall totals, meaning small shifts in the storm track could lead to notable changes in impacts across the region. Officials caution residents not to focus on exact totals yet, but instead prepare for dangerous winter travel conditions.
The Winter Storm Watch is currently scheduled to remain in effect from late Friday night through Sunday afternoon, covering all counties in the NWS Paducah forecast area, including southern Illinois, western Kentucky, southeast Missouri, and southwest Indiana.
Another forecast update is expected Wednesday afternoon, which could include upgrades to warnings as confidence continues to increase.
Residents are encouraged to monitor forecasts closely, plan for potential travel delays, and prepare emergency kits ahead of the weekend.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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