Live updates: Power outages resolving but thousands still in dark. Latest on ice storm
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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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A winter storm left behind layers of ice, sleet and snow for many residents across Kentucky on Friday morning.
Total accumulations of wintry buildup have not been officially determined yet, but it’s still making an impact in the Commonwealth in a variety of ways. Travel conditions are poor, many are without power and multiple businesses and schools are closed Friday.
Here’s the latest of what we know about the storm.
Fayette County Public Schools activities canceled
6:30 p.m. — Because of the weather, Fayette County Public Schools has canceled all athletic and extracurricular activities that were scheduled for Saturday. The school system said the exceptions are the KHSAA Regional Swim Competition and the 8th Grade State Basketball Tournament hosted by the Kentucky Sports Center, which are not organized by the school district and are scheduled to continue as planned.
City of Lexington still treating roads, announces plans for garbage pickup, weekend activities
4:55 p.m. — While Lexington’s main roads were in good shape by late Friday afternoon, the city of Lexington said in an update that neighborhood streets could still be covered with snow and ice. Drivers were urged to use caution if they must be out Friday night or Saturday morning, since previously-treated roads may refreeze in the colder temperatures.
The city said its crews and contractors were continuing to treat roads as set forth in the snow plan.
Lexington police responded to two injury collisions, five crashes without injuries, four motorist assists, one traffic hazard and two calls about downed wires between 5 a.m. and 3 p.m. Friday, the city said.
Garbage that was not collected because of the storm this week will be picked up on the regularly-scheduled collection day next week. Trash bags that will not fit in the carts should be tied securely and placed at the curb “near, but not against” the green cart, the city said in a news release.
Several weekend activities have been canceled, including Saturday’s Owl Prowl at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, Outdoor Skills event at McConnell Springs and Therapeutic Recreation bowling at Southland Bowl. The “Glory Road” basketball game between Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and Louisville Central Saturday has been postponed, but a new date has not been set, according to the city
Kentucky State Police has responded to over 100 accidents
2:30 p.m. — Kentucky State Police has responded to 118 weather-related accidents since midnight Thursday, according to the agency.
Sixteen of those accidents involved injuries, per KSP. KSP said it also has responded to over 100 calls for motorist assistance.
Between 8 p.m. Thursday and 11 a.m. Friday, Lexington police have responded to six collisions, according to the city. Two of those accidents involved injuries.
Over 7,000 statewide still without power
2:05 p.m. — It’s been over 24 hours since Thursday’s icy winter storm made an appearance in Kentucky, and 7,144 are still without power, according to poweroutages.us.
Most of the outages are from western Kentucky. Poweroutages.us reports one outage in Fayette County.
The large outage affecting over 200 customers in Idle Hour neighborhood near New Circle Road and Richmond Road in Lexington is no longer on LG&E-KU’s outage map.
Idle Hour neighborhood still without power
11:43 a.m. — LG&E-KU is now reporting the power outage affecting 203 customers in the Idle Hour neighborhood near New Circle Road and Richmond Road in Lexington won’t be fixed until 3:30 p.m.
The outage was first reported at 5:47 a.m. and the cause is trees or limbs in power lines. The initial estimation for restoration was 9:30 a.m.
Eight customers near Pasadana Drive are also without power due to trees or limbs in power lines, according to LG&E-KU’s outage map. That outage was reported at 10:21 a.m. and the restoration estimation there is 3 p.m.
As of 11:25 a.m., 10,342 residents Kentucky have no power, according to poweroutages.us.
Inch of snow reported in Jessamine, Woodford Counties
10:45 a.m. — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 7 is reporting an inch of snow in Jessamine and Woodford Counties.
The road conditions in the counties vary from wet to covered, KYTC said. KYTC also said its snow removal efforts in all 12 counties have been effective.
A section of North Cleveland Road/KY 1973 between Briar Hill Road and I-64 near mile-marker 10 is now open after it was shut down at roughly 11:30 p.m. Thursday due to entangled tree and electric lines, per KYTC.
Road treatment efforts in Lexington making progress
10:06 a.m. — City road crews have been working around the clock to improve the road conditions in Lexington.
According to the city, both air and pavement temperatures are within the range where salt and de-icer is effective. Priority 1 roads, which include Main Street, Nicholasville Road and Richmond Road, per the city’s snow plan, have continued to improve with treatment.
The city said crews plan to move their attention to priority 2, 3 and 4 roadways today.
Even with the progress made, the city warns people that roads may still be slick and/or snow covered in spots. Unnecessary travel is discouraged.
Expiration of winter storm advisory pushed back two hours
9:30 a.m. — According to the National Weather Service, the winter weather advisory placed on Fayette and many other Kentucky counties has been extended to last through noon Friday.
The advisory was originally supposed to expire at 10 a.m. NWS said to plan for hazardous and slippery conditions during the morning commute.
Over 11,000 people in Kentucky are still without power, per poweroutages.us. Over 200 in Fayette County have lost power, most of which is in the Idle Hour neighborhood near New Circle Road and Richmond Road.
LG&E-KU says the reason for the outage is trees or limbs in power lines. The estimated time of restoration is 11:30 a.m.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet workers in Northern Ky. prepared to work ‘All Dey’
7:49 a.m. — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 6, which mostly services northern Kentucky, said it’s prepared to work “All Dey” in spirit of the Cincinnati Bengals’ Super Bowl appearance nine days from Friday.
The district said it has stockpiled 21,000 tons of salt and over 67,000 gallons of brine for de-icing purposes. 120 trucks, state and contractors are available for snow and ice removal, and five trucks will focus on the six-mile section of I-75 between Buttermilk Pike and the Brent Spence Bridge that includes the “Cut in the Hill” and ramps.
Lexington deactivates Emergency Operations Center
7:15 a.m. — The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government has deactivated its Emergency Operations Center, according to emergency management public information officer John Bobel.
The ice storm warning has been canceled while the primary roads and interstates in Lexington have been cleared. Secondary roads are mostly clear but slick and snow-covered in some spots.
According to Stacey Dimon, information office supervisor for the Lexington government, the Lexington Police Department responded to five total collisions between 8 p.m. Thursday and 5 a.m. Friday. Two of those accidents involved injuries.
Lexington police also responded to four motorist assist calls, eight traffic hazards and one report of wires down, per Dimon.
Friday’s forecast
7:15 a.m. — Thursday’s winter storm left behind a coating of ice, sleet and snow, but the storm has not taken its curtain call yet.
According to the National Weather Service, light snow will linger in the area throughout Friday morning. Accumulations are expected to be roughly one inch and it’s possible sleet and/or freezing drizzle mixes in.
Cold temperatures will creep into the area after the morning’s snow dump, with the temperature getting as low as 12 degrees, per NWS. Most of Kentucky is under a winter weather advisory until 10 a.m.
Schools, city offices closed Friday
7:13 a.m. — Fayette County Public Schools and all non-essential Lexington city government offices will be closed Friday because of weather conditions.
FCPS will use a traditional snow day instead of a non-traditional instruction day Friday. Madison, Woodford and Jessamine County Schools, in counties that border Fayette, will also have traditional snow days Friday.
Garbage pickup scheduled for Friday has been postponed to a later date.
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Most morning flights at Blue Grass Airport canceled
7:05 a.m. — All departing flights at Blue Grass Airport through 7:16 a.m. have been canceled, according to the airport’s flight status screen.
Two American Airlines flights departing at 10:54 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. to Charlotte and Chicago, respectively, have also been canceled. The next scheduled departure from the airport takes off at 8:58 a.m. to Punta Gorda.
All of the afternoon flights are operating on schedule.
Over 13,000 without power
6:46 a.m. — According to poweroutages.us, 13,202 Kentucky residents don’t have power after Thursday’s winter storm.
Hopkins County is reporting the most outages at 2,170, per poweroutages.us. Floyd County in Eastern Kentucky is also reporting over 2,000 outages.
According to LG&E-KU’s power outage map, there are six separate locations across Lexington that have lost power. Most are very minor, but the biggest outage is affecting approximately 203 customers in the Idle Hour neighborhood near New Circle Road and Richmond Road.
LG&E-KU says the reason for the outage is trees or limbs in power lines. The estimated time of restoration is 9:30 a.m.
Fayette County Sheriff’s Office activates Winter Care Program
6:40 a.m. — The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office has activated its Winter Care program for people impacted by Thursday’s storm.
The following services are available as a part of the plan.
- Transportation to and from employment for those who are employed in the healthcare industry or professionals that provide direct healthcare services.
- Transportation to and from a critical medial appointment.
- Pick-up of critical prescription medications.
- Welfare checks for our most vulnerable citizens.
- Distribution of winter coats and blankets.
- Transportation to shelters.
If anyone is in need of those services, contact the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office at 859-252-1771.
Herald-Leader staff writer Karla Ward and education writer Valarie Honeycutt Spears contributed to this report.
This story was originally published February 4, 2022 at 7:35 AM.
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