‘It’s going to be treacherous.’ Lexington officials warn about travel prior to snow storm
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and city officials said Friday the city is prepped and ready for a winter storm system expected to dump between 3 and 6 inches of snow on the city late Friday night into Saturday morning.
Rob Allen, the director of Lexington streets and roads, said crews will start at 8 p.m. when rain is expected to fall.
“We will go through the overnight,” Allen said. The day shift will report early Saturday. The snow is expected to start falling around 10 p.m. Friday night at a rate of 1 to 2 inches an hour.
“It’s going to be very heavy,” Allen said
Allen said city crews will also be concentrating around Rupp Arena where the state women’s high school basketball Sweet 16 tournament is taking place. Allen also encouraged people not to park on streets — so crews can plow— and use parking garages.
Allen said the city has been able to re-stock its two salt barns. However, because rain is expected prior to the snow, the city can’t salt the roads.
Sgt. Guy Miller from the Lexington Police Department said the department will have additional officers near Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center to help direct traffic related to the Sweet 16.
“If you don’t need to be out during winter weather, please stay home,” Miller said.
Tim Brandewie, of Lexington Emergency Management, said road conditions will continue to worsen throughout the night.
“Our primary concern overnight is going to be road conditions and visibility,” Brandewie said. Rain will start around 8 p.m. and switch to snow around 10 p.m. On top of that, temperatures will plummet, he said.
The high on Saturday will only be 26 degrees.
“It’s going to be treacherous,” Brandewie said.
Fayette County Public Schools canceled all in-person activities for Saturday.
“As soon as conditions allow, our facilities and maintenance teams will clear parking lots and sidewalks at appropriate locations in advance of Sunday activities,” Superintendent Demetrus Liggins said in an email to families. “If there are changes in schedules for Sunday – or if facilities and other operations are impacted in any way – we will share this information with activity sponsors to communicate with participants.”
Information about any changes for Sunday will also be posted on the district’s website and social media accounts, he said.
Polly Ruddick, the director of the city’s Office of Homeless Prevention and Intervention, said street outreach teams started bringing people inside Thursday. Ruddick said the city’s shelter system has also expanded its services. People who see someone who may need help should contact the Lexington Police Department at 859-258-3600.
All parts of Kentucky are expected to see snowfall, with Eastern Kentucky projected to get hit the hardest, according to the National Weather Service.
Gusty winds could also make travel treacherous. The National Weather Service said winds between 25 and 30 miles per hour could cause some blowing snow early Saturday morning.
Central Kentucky was hammered with weeks of winter storms in January and February. A Jan. 6 snow storm blasted Lexington with nearly 10 inches of snow, causing dozens of traffic accidents and unknown numbers of stranded motorists on Interstate 75 and Interstate 64.
“It already feels like we have had our full share of winter weather,” Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said. “We are at the last gasp of winter.”
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials said crews will likely start salting roads later Friday as necessary and as conditions permit. Temperatures were expected to be warmer as the snow falls, which will help with snow removal, state officials said.
Herald-Leader staff writer Karla Ward contributed to this report.
This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 2:14 PM.
