Honestly, if you've spent more than five minutes in the Ohio Valley, you know the weather has a personality disorder. Right now in Louisville, it’s basically doing that mid-January dance where nobody knows whether to grab a parka or just a heavy hoodie.
The current temperature is sitting at exactly 35°F.
It sounds manageable until you factor in the "feels like" situation. With a 10 mph wind coming in from the south, that biting air makes it feel more like 28°F the second you step out of your car at Kroger. We’ve got partly sunny skies at the moment, which is a nice break from the grey ceiling we usually deal with this time of year, but don't let those rays fool you. The humidity is hanging out around 43%, so it's that dry, crisp cold that makes your knuckles crack if you forget the lotion.
The Snow Situation for the Rest of Today
There is a lot of chatter about what’s happening tonight. People in Louisville tend to panic the second a snowflake is mentioned on the news, and today is no different.
The forecast for Friday, January 16, 2026, shows a high of 45°F later on, but that’s going to be short-lived. We’re expecting things to turn cloudy as the afternoon progresses. By tonight, the low is dropping to 27°F.
Here is the kicker: there’s a 23% chance of snow during the day, but that jumps up to a 35% chance tonight. We aren't talking about a blizzard that shuts down the city and empties the milk shelves—though locals might act like it—but rather some light snow showers. The wind is also expected to pick up, shifting to the southwest at 13 mph.
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Why Louisville Weather is So Weird Right Now
You ever wonder why it feels like we live in a literal bowl? Because we kinda do. The geography of the Ohio Valley traps moisture and cold air, creating these micro-climates where it can be bone-dry in St. Matthews while Jeffersontown is getting dusted with snow.
Earlier this morning, around 10:56 AM, the National Weather Service was already tracking a few slick spots north of I-64. Road temperatures are finally catching up to the air, which means the "dusting" we’re expecting tonight could actually stick to the pavement this time.
Survival Tips for the Next 24 Hours
If you’re heading out tonight, especially after sunset when that 35% snow chance kicks in, keep a few things in mind.
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- Check the overpasses: I-65 and the Gene Snyder are notorious for freezing before the surface streets. Even a light dusting can turn a bridge into a skating rink.
- Watch the wind chill: With the wind gusting up to 13 mph tonight, that 27-degree low is going to feel significantly colder.
- UV is a non-issue: The UV index is currently at 0, and it’s only hitting a max of 1 today. You can leave the sunscreen at home, but definitely keep the Chapstick handy.
The air is currently coming from the south, but that southwest shift later today is what's bringing in the moisture for tonight's flurries. It's typical January in the Derby City—gray, temperamental, and just cold enough to be annoying.
Actionable Next Steps
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Check your tire pressure before the sun goes down; these rapid temperature drops from 45°F to 27°F often trigger that annoying "low pressure" light on your dashboard. If you're commuting tonight, give yourself an extra ten minutes for the potential snow showers, primarily if you're traveling north toward southern Indiana where the accumulation chances are slightly higher.