Storm brings strong winds, rain to Kentucky. What to expect through Thursday night

Strong winds surged throughout the state Thursday, with Winter Storm Miles prompting flash flood warnings in several western Kentucky counties and a wind advisory that will remain in effect until 10 p.m.

Earlier Thursday, the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory warning of southern winds of 15 to 25 mph and gusts of up to 45 to 50 mph expected.

We’ve rounded up some information on what to expect Thursday night, including the likelihood of tornadoes and how to deal with yard debris like downed limbs.

What are conditions like in Lexington?

As of Thursday afternoon, the strongest gusts were concentrated in several southern and central Kentucky counties – with Hardin County reporting a gust of more than 52 mph, according to Chris Bailey, the chief meteorologist for Herald-Leader reporting partner WKYT.

Severe weather was most likely during the afternoon and early evening Thursday, according to the National Weather Service, with an isolated tornado “not out of the question,” but unlikely.

The storm dumped about an inch of rain on Lexington as of mid-afternoon Thursday, and winds were calm at the airport. A 7-day forecast from the NWS anticipated rainfall totals to reach between a half and three quarters of an inch.

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm are expected Thursday evening, petering off after 10 p.m. Winds are expected to be breezy at 21 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph, so you might want to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel if you have plans tonight.

Friday is expected to be calmer with the weather clearing and bringing sunshine this holiday weekend.

Will Kentucky see another tornado?

The NWS office in Louisville reported earlier Thursday “an isolated tornado is not out of the question, but confidence is low.”

In a severe storm update, Bailey wrote tornadoes are possible, according to short-term models. Streaks of rotating storms popped up across Kentucky on the Weather Research and Forecasting model, Bailey reported.

Severe storms or not, strong winds could snatch trash cans, patio furniture or plants Thursday, so you might want to batten down the hatches just in case.

Where can I take downed tree limbs in Lexington?

Residents with city trash pickup can dispose of yard waste using their gray roll carts or yard waste bags, according to the city’s official website.

The city does collections on the same day as your blue and green carts. If you do not have a gray yard cart, request one by calling LexCall at 859-425-2255 or going online.

Residents with city waste collection are asked to place their yard waste on the curb no earlier than 4 p.m. the day before collection and no later than 5 a.m. the day of collection. Carts must be removed from the curb by 7 p.m. on collection day. When it comes to tree limb pick up, the city requires that:

• Material put in the yard waste cart be loose, not bagged.
• Limbs placed in the cart must not be longer than 4 feet in length or thicker than 6 inches in diameter.
• If the limbs don’t fit in the cart, they must be bundled with twine and placed at the curb. Bundles should be less than 4 feet in length and weigh less than 50 pounds.

Fayette County residents have a couple options for tree limb removal:

• Take the material to Haley Pike Waste Management Facility. Fayette County residents can drop off two pickup-truck loads of brush/yard waste each month free of charge. A pickup load is considered a regular, 8-foot bed. A double-axle 16-foot trailer counts as two loads. The cost of each additional load is $28 a ton.
• Put material in your green trash cart. Make sure to limit the material; the lid to your trash cart should close when you set it out for collection.

This story was originally published February 17, 2022 at 4:32 PM.