National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

With the lack of really cold air this winter, we got to wondering what the warmest lowest temperature of any winter season has been, or, in other words, the warmest temperature that we never fell below during a winter season.

As it turns out, that record was set during the same season at all four major climate sites in central Kentucky:  1931-32.  Also, all four locations set the record on the same day of that season:  January 31.  On that date, Louisville fell to 18°, Lexington 17°, Bowling Green 20°, and Frankfort 18°, all of which were the coldest temperature of that winter season for those locations (December 1 - February 28, meteorological winter).  No other meteorological winter season has seen its coldest temperature be that warm or warmer.

So far in the 2011-2012 winter season, the lowest temperatures have been:

• Louisville:  17° on January 3, 13, and 14
• Lexington:  14° on January 3 and 14
• Bowling Green:  16° on January 14
• Frankfort:  13° on January 14

So, no records broken this year.  But we're not far off (so far)!