News

Travel will be 'hazardous or impossible' when Izzy dumps up to a foot of snow

By Lightning Reports, Published: January 15, 2022

The National Weather Service predicted the area would get 6-12 inches of snow and also experience wind gusts up to 35 mph as winter storm Izzy moves in.

The weather service issued a winter storm warning from 6 tonight through 8 a.m. Monday and said travel would be "very hazardous or impossible" once the storm system dumped up to a foot of snow. The forecast calls for snow overnight mainly after 1 a.m. with 2-4 inches inches possible and snow and sleet accumulation Sunday adding 4 to 8 inches.

Forecaster Paul Speranza, who broadcasts the weather for Lightning radio partner WTZQ, predicted that Henderson County could see 10-15 inches of snow when the storm moves in.
“Once you get into the evening hours (Saturday), snow is going to intensify, you’ll see moderate to heavy snow developing, temperatures by the morning will get down to the 20 degree mark,” he said. “I think you’re not going to be going places on Sunday. I think you’re going to be staying home and looking out your window. The southern part of the county may encounter a little bit of sleet mixed in — just depends on the track of that storm. But overall, more snow than anything else. … Ten to 15 inches of snow is what I’m looking for.”
High winds with the potential for a coating of ice and snow on trees and powerlines is a bad combination, Speranza noted, warning that power outages could occur. Plus, whatever falls is likely to stick around.
“You’re looking at the daytime highs of upper 30s to 40 on Monday and then Monday night temperatures get down to the upper teens to the low 20s — anything melts you know what’s going to happen,” he said. “It’s going to get hard as a rock plus the wind’s going to be blowing.”
Speranza also pointed out that the winter storm comes during the coldest week of winter historically, from Jan. 11 to Jan. 18. The school administrators won’t have to deal with making a call on the weather situation until early Wednesday. Schools are closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Tuesday for a teacher work day.
Both forecasters recommended people take action now to prepare for the storm and possibility of a power outage.
“By Friday, when more people hear what’s going on, I’m sure stores are going to be packed,” Speranza said. “Why wait? I don’t want to be with all those people running around.”