Glen Conner
State Climatologist Emeritus for Kentucky

Is it true that there was a "big snow" in May in Kentucky? At first thought, it seems unlikely that a "big" snowfall would occur in May because of the usual warm temperature enjoyed by then. Snowfall in Kentucky is typically confined to winter with a few significant snow events in March and an occasional one in April. Early May infrequently records snow flurries, but a major snowfall isn't expected. After all, the first Saturday in May is the Kentucky Derby. A major snowfall that occurred two weeks after that? Improbable.

Fortunately, we don't have to wonder because the network of climate stations record daily observations. One such Washington County station was located in Springfield, Kentucky during May 1894.

The voluntary observer at Springfield was Miles Saunders who had made observations there since January 1893. A copy of his report is on the next page. The first six or seven days of the month are missing data entries. His note on the observer form says that he was absent. He doesn't say why he was absent but, at earlier times, he commented that he had been ill. Beginning on 9 May, the maximum temperatures were in the eighties and reached 92°F on the 17th. On the 18th, temperature dropped from a maximum of 83°F to the minimum of 35°F, a range of 48°F. Winter had returned! On the 19th and 20th, the maximum each day was 45°F.

On the 20 May 1894, Mr. Saunders recorded 5.00 inches of snow! Could that be? In the amount of precipitation column, he entered 1.48 inches. That is more than enough to produce the five inch snow with plenty left over for rain. In addition, the amount of snow is repeated in the Monthly Summary on the upper right of the form. He apparently understood that we might question his entry because he wrote remarks, somewhat hard to read perhaps, that would verify his observation:
"On 19 & 20 rain all day & night of 20 Morn Heavy snow fell from 6 to noon & went off in drizzling rain - trees broke under the weight of snow About 5 or 6 inches fell - "

These remarks leave no room to doubt his observation. By 20 May, the trees were fully foliated and the limbs broke, unable to support the weight of the snow on all those leaves.

Was there a "big snow" in May? Indeed, there was, at least in Springfield! Rev. Miles Saunders, as he signed his November 1895 report, wouldn't lie.

Picture of his Observer's Records