Live updates: Sleet reported in Lexington, flood advisories issued in Kentucky
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Lexington prepares for winter storm
Approximately 0.25-0.5 inches of ice is expected to blanket Lexington as well as parts of western and northern Kentucky.
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Lexington and other parts of Kentucky have seen plenty of winter in 2022, but it’s possible the worst storm we’ve seen yet this winter is arriving Thursday.
The potential for freezing rain, sleet and snow remains high as a winter storm tracks towards northwestern and central Kentucky, including Fayette County. Power outages, tree damage and hazardous traveling conditions are all expected from the storm.
The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning that’s in effect for 24 hours beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday.
Here’s the latest we know about the storm:
Sleet in Lexington, hazardous roads in Central Kentucky
11:15 p.m. – Sleet was reported in Fayette County Thursday night, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
Additionally, other Central Kentucky counties had hazardous conditions. There was water over the road in Bourbon County on Millersburg Cynthiana Road/KY 1879 and Elizabeth Station Road/KY 1876, according to the transportation cabinet. Rain changed to sleet in part of Scott County. Road crews also had to address downed trees in Scott County.
Crews and contractors were treating slick areas in Woodford County. Travel was expected to be difficult or impossible in Central Kentucky Thursday and Friday, according to the transportation cabinet.
More flood advisories issued in Kentucky
10 p.m. – The National Weather Service issued flood advisories for a few bodies of water in Kentucky on Thursday night. A flood advisory was issued for the Rough River near Dundee in Ohio County until 6 p.m. Friday. Another flood advisory was issued for Elkhorn Creek near Peaks Mill in Franklin County until 1 p.m. Saturday.
A flood advisory was also issued for the Licking River near Blue Licks Spring in Nicholas County until 7 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
Sleet will change to snow in western Kentucky
9:25 p.m. – Sleet falling in western Kentucky is expected to change to snow overnight, according to the National Weather Service. Up to 1 inch of snow could fall in the region overnight.
Lexington closes city offices, no garbage pick-up Friday
9 p.m. – Lexington announced any non-emergency city offices which weren’t involved in snow removal would be closed Friday due to weather conditions. Garbage collection also won’t be conducted Friday.
Lexington offers free parking to get cars off downtown streets
8:50 p.m. – Lexington will let people park in downtown garages for free starting Thursday night and continuing until 10 a.m. Saturday, the city announced Thursday. Mayor Linda Gorton said she wanted to get as many vehicles as possible off downtown streets so it would be easier for road crews to salt and plow streets.
The open parking garages include Victorian Square Garage at 350 W. Short Street; Transit Center Garage, 150 E. Vine Street; Helix Garage, 156 E. Main Street; and the Courthouse Garage, 105 Barr Street.
UK cancels in-person classes for Friday
8 p.m. – The University of Kentucky canceled in-person classes for Friday as the threat of more ice and winter weather loomed. The university announced that employees weren’t required to report to work either, unless they were “Plan B” employees.
UK didn’t have in-person classes Thursday either.
Power restorations underway in Kentucky
7:30 p.m. – The number of power outages in Kentucky was dropping Thursday evening, according to poweroutage.us, a website which tracks outages across the country.
There were more than 20,000 outages reported across the state earlier in the day, primarily focused in western Kentucky. The number of outages had dropped below 14,000 in the evening before jumping back up to 17,260 as of 7:30 p.m., according to poweroutage.us.
Police seeing stranded motorists, crashes in western Kentucky
6:30 p.m. – Kentucky State Police telecommunicators in western Kentucky took hundreds of calls Thursday during the ice storm. Kentucky State Police Post 1, which serves Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, and Trigg counties, responded to four injury crashes and seven non-injury crashes Thursday.
Troopers also responded to 15 stranded drivers in that service area as of Thursday afternoon. Road conditions in the region were expected to get worse due to continued precipitation and falling temperatures.
Across Kentucky, state police had responded to 80 weather-related crashes and 57 calls for drivers needing assistance as of 6 p.m.
“While interstates, parkways, and state highways are passable, they remain slick and hazardous,” Trooper Sarah Burgess said in a news release. “KSP continues to urge everyone to avoid travel if possible.”
Possibility of flooding in eastern, Central Kentucky
6:20 p.m. – Changing forecasts and heavy rain have led the National Weather Service to advise that flooding is possible in Eastern Kentucky and Central Kentucky.
State officials warned that local flooding and river flooding were possible. The chances of flash flooding were low, but the National Weather Service couldn’t rule it out. Ice accumulation was still expected as temperatures drop.
A flood advisory was in place for Anderson, Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Madison, Mercer, Nicholas, Scott and Woodford counties, according to the National Weather Service.
Kentucky power outages surpass 20,000
5:30 p.m. – More than 20,000 power outages have been reported in Kentucky Thursday, according to poweroutage.us, a website which tracks power outages across the United States.
More than 60 percent of customers in Calloway County were without power as of 5:30 p.m., according to poweroutage.us. More than 95 percent of customers in the county were without power at one point earlier in the day.
There were also thousands of customers without power in Lyon and Hopkins counties, according to poweroutage.us. The other counties with high rates of power outages were primarily in western Kentucky.
Kentucky schools announce closings for Friday
5:25 p.m. – Fayette County Public Schools will remain closed Friday, the district announced. Fayette County schools were also closed Thursday.
Other public school districts, including Madison, Jessamine and Jefferson counties, also announced schools would be closed Friday.
Louisville residents asked to ‘avoid travel if at all possible’
4:40 p.m. – Continued precipitation has kept road maintenance crews from making much progress on road treatment in the Louisville area, according to the National Weather Service.
“Until this precipitation ends and road crews can make progress on improving them, avoid travel if at all possible,” the National Weather Service said in a tweet.
The Louisville Metro Police Department previously announced it would only be responding to collisions on Thursday if they involved injuries or blocked roads.
Downed trees an issue in western Kentucky
3:40 p.m. – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet workers had to clear downed trees Thursday while also working to treat roads, according to state officials.
Downed trees were encountered in Caldwell, Christian, Hopkins and Webster counties, according to the state transportation cabinet. State workers were equipped with chainsaws, but the state Division of Forestry also sent a chainsaw crew to help clear trees in Caldwell County.
Additionally, transportation cabinet engineers closed the U.S. 45 Ohio River Bridge between Paducah and Brookport, Ill., according to state officials. The bridge has an open steel grid deck rather than solid pavement.
Power outages piling up
2:11 p.m. — According to poweroutages.us, nearly 14,000 residents in Kentucky are without power.
The number has nearly tripled in a span of an hour and-a-half as an icy winter storm makes its way through western Kentucky and into parts of northern and central Kentucky.
Over 1,000 residents in Henderson, Hopkins, Caldwell, Lyon, Marshall and Trigg Counties are without power, per poweroutages.us.
Transportation Cabinet workers on standby
2:10 p.m. — Workers with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 7, which services Lexington, are on standby for the arrival of a winter storm.
The district reports early ice accumulation in the northern parts of Scott County.
Over 5,000 without power
12:46 p.m. — Over 5,000 Kentucky residents are without power as the winter storm arrives in the Commonwealth, according to poweroutage.us.
Most of the reported outages are in western Kentucky, where the storm is making its first appearance. Marshall County is reporting the most outages at 1,118, according to poweroutages.us.
Louisville Metro Police temporarily canceling response to non-injury collisions
12:25 p.m. — The Louisville Metro Police Department has announced it will only respond to accidents involving injuries on Thursday.
If you’re involved in a non-injury collision, you’re encouraged to report it at this link.
Lexington’s police department made the same decision during an early January snow storm that dumped nearly 10 inches of snow on the ground.
Ice storm arriving later in day?
11:52 a.m. — According to the National Weather Service, the major ice threat won’t arrive in Lexington until later in the afternoon Thursday.
It was initially believed the icy part of the storm would show up early in the afternoon, but the system’s slow-moving path has pushed the transition from rain to freezing rain later into the afternoon and evening, according to the latest forecast.
EKU going virtual
11:15 a.m. — Beginning at noon Thursday, Eastern Kentucky University will transition to virtual learning in preparation of the arrival of a winter storm.
Several other colleges, such as the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Transylvania University, Murray State University and Kentucky State University, previously announced their plans to go virtual during the storm. Western Kentucky University will close at 4:30 p.m. CST on Thursday
Mayor advises people to stay off roads
10:55 a.m. — Mayor Linda Gorton warned people in Lexington to stay off the roads as an icy winter storm slams the area.
The division of emergency management said they’re expecting ice to start accumulating at 4 p.m. Thursday. When it starts, they will focus their efforts on the power grid and the interstate as well.
Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said his department is prepared to assist with traffic incidents if it happens while repeating the warning of staying off the roads if at all possible.
Chain grocery stores planning to stay open
10:50 a.m. — Many businesses in the area have closed in preparation for the arrival of a big winter storm, but chain grocery stores like Kroger, Walmart and Meijer are planning to stay open.
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“With the probability of severe winter weather likely during the next few days, we understand our customers will rely on us for essential items to help manage the storm. We’ll continue following forecasts and will be prepared to serve our customers the best we can,” said Walmart corporate spokesman Charles Crowson in an email.
Flights canceled at Blue Grass Airport
10:45 a.m. — The winter storm heading towards Lexington has forced Blue Grass Airport to cancel all of its remaining departing flights Thursday.
All of its arriving flights have also been canceled.
What do I do if I see a down power line?
7 a.m. — Freezing rain increases the possibility of power lines succumbing to the added weight from ice accumulation.
If you do see a down power line, LG&E-KU advises people to leave the downed equipment alone. Instead, report the down power line to LG&E-KU via their mobile app, their website by calling 502-589-1444 for LG&E customers, m1-800-981-0600 for KU customers.
Schools, government offices closed
In preparation for the arrival of Thursday’s winter storm, Fayette County Public Schools decided it would use an non-traditional instruction day Thursday.
Lexington’s city government offices will also be closed Thursday. Garbage pickup for Thursday has been postponed to a later date.
This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 10:57 AM.
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