Nashville, Tennessee – Another surge of Arctic air is expected to plunge south into Tennessee and Kentucky during the first full week of February, bringing a stretch of sharply colder temperatures, biting wind chills, and a reduced risk for widespread snowstorms across the region.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, temperatures across the Tennessee and Ohio valleys are favored to run well below normal from Friday through the following Thursday as strong Arctic high pressure expands across the eastern U.S. At the same time, precipitation probabilities lean below average, pointing to a colder but generally drier pattern.
In Kentucky, the coldest conditions are expected across northern and eastern counties, including the Bluegrass Region and eastern Kentucky, where overnight lows could drop into the single digits. Louisville and Lexington will see frigid mornings with limited daytime recovery, while wind chills dip into the single digits or below zero at times. Western Kentucky will also feel the cold, though temperatures there may run slightly higher.
Across Tennessee, the cold will be most pronounced in the Upper Cumberland, Middle Tennessee, and the Plateau. Nashville and surrounding communities may struggle to reach the 20s during the coldest stretch, while East Tennessee and the Smokies face prolonged freezing conditions and gusty winds. Despite the deep cold, the prevailing pattern favors dry Arctic air, keeping snow chances below normal. Brief light snow or flurries remain possible with fast-moving systems, especially in northern areas.
Residents should prepare for an extended cold stretch by protecting pipes, checking heating systems, and limiting prolonged outdoor exposure. Confidence is increasing in the Arctic pattern holding through early February, with additional advisories possible if conditions intensify or storm tracks shift.
