Ice Storms: The Great Ice Storm of 1951
The Great Ice Storm of 1951 is by far the worst winter storm on record for Kentucky as well as much of Tennessee. The blend of winter conditions necessary to produce the storm came together in late January. After the temperature reached above 50°F on a rainy January 28th, colder air began filtering into the region, bringing high temperatures of near 30°F and lows in the teens. Precipitation continued and turned to freezing rain. January 31st brought 1.81 inches of precipitation, including four inches of snow on top of the accumulated ice, with a high temperature of 31°F in Bowling Green. The next day brought an additional five inches of snow and a reinforcement of polar air. When the storm was over, it had left nearly two inches of ice accumulated over a path from Nashville to Lexington, crossing right through the Barren River Area. The ice was covered by nine inches of snow. To make matters worse, record cold temperatures followed the storm. February 2nd brought a then record low temperature of -20°F to Bowling Green, and the mercury dropped to -18°F the next day before temperatures in the region began to moderate (Harlan, 1952). Reports in Bowling Green's Park City Daily News summarized some of the local impacts. Repair crews worked frantically in the frigid conditions trying to repair an estimated 300 broken power lines. Dozens of lines continued to snap two days after the storm hit, as more than 1500 consumers in Warren, Simpson, Logan, and Butler counties remained without power. While power was eventually restored, phones remained out of service in Glasgow one week after the storm. Travel was nearly impossible. Eastern Air Lines cancelled flights for three days. Only two of 28 scheduled Greyhound buses arrived in Bowling Green the day after the storm hit. Trains of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad were as much as two days behind schedule. Even bulldozers proved to be of little use in removing the ice in Bowling Green. People were forced to walk to work in the brutal conditions, and some were injured in falls. Total damage was estimated to be around $100 million, the costliest winter storm ever at that time.  Figure 8-3. Path of the Great Ice Storm of 1951.
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