Louisville, Kentucky – An increasingly unsettled winter pattern may take shape across Kentucky late next week, with rain and snow chances rising to around 50 percent statewide between Jan 20 and Jan 26. The evolving setup suggests multiple opportunities for precipitation, with temperature swings playing a key role in determining whether locations see rain, snow, or a mix.
According to the National Weather Service and the Climate Prediction Center, Kentucky is now included in an area with a 50 percent chance of above-normal precipitation during the 8–14 day period. Temperature signals during that same window remain variable, keeping the Commonwealth in a transition zone where precipitation type may change quickly as systems move through.
Northern Kentucky, including the Cincinnati metro suburbs, Louisville, and areas along the Ohio River, may see rain during milder periods, especially during daytime hours. Colder air filtering in behind passing systems could allow rain to mix with or change to snow overnight and during early morning hours, creating brief slick conditions.
Central Kentucky, including Lexington, Frankfort, and Richmond, faces a similar setup. Rain appears more likely overall, but snow or a rain-snow mix becomes possible during colder windows, particularly if precipitation lingers as temperatures fall.
Farther south, including Bowling Green and the Lake Cumberland region, rain is favored, though brief wintry mixes cannot be ruled out during stronger systems or nighttime periods.
Drivers should be prepared for changing road conditions along I-64, I-65, I-71, and the Western Kentucky Parkway, especially during commute hours. Residents are encouraged to monitor updated outlooks and prepare for variable winter travel conditions. Confidence will improve as the period approaches, and additional advisories may be issued as systems become better defined heading into late January.
