The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a winter storm watch to be in effect from late Saturday night through late Sunday night.

The forecast includes chances of rain, sleet, freezing rain and snow, but it’s the freezing rain component that is causing the most concern.

There are still some differences in two model solutions this morning; however, there is still a strong signal that freezing rain will occur across a good portion of the area. Significant accumulations are possible in the watch area. Graphics provided this morning show the probability of seeing at least a tenth of an inch over most of the area, with a quarter of an inch or more possible in southern Illinois and the Pennyrile region of Kentucky. Again, expect some changes in the outlook over the next 24 hours or so.

The winter storm watch area is where surface temperatures may stay below freezing for the duration of the event, leading to the most substantial ice and sleet accumulations. A heavy mix of snow and sleet could accumulate to four inches or more in the watch area. Also, ice accumulations of a quarter inch or more are possible.

Areas to the south of the watch, including western Kentucky, will likely need at least a winter weather advisory to handle the initial period of snow, sleet, and freezing rain, but as the temperature climbs above freezing Sunday morning, most of the precipitation will fall as a cold, but not freezing rain. 

It will also be rather windy. At first, so that with the ice loading, tree and power pole and/or line damage could lead to power outages. Areas that receive primarily freezing rain will have the greatest threat for more widespread power outages.

Travel could be nearly impossible on Sunday and into the Monday morning commute.

Temperatures will fall well below freezing on Sunday night which will cement the ice, sleet, and snow accumulation on roads for the remainder of the work week. Temperatures are not expected to climb above freezing through at least next Thursday.

Beginning Monday night, low temperatures will be in the single digits north to the teens in the south. Tuesday and Wednesday night will see the coldest temperatures. Wind chill values Tuesday night and Wednesday night will drop below zero across the northern half of the region, with single digits above zero expected across the south.