Kentucky weather: Gusty winds will be followed by freezing cold. Snow could come with it
Kentucky will face a variety of damaging weather that could cause power outages over the next couple of days, according to the National Weather Service and local power companies.
The potentially hazardous weather began Friday with high winds and rain, and forecasters expected that to be followed by cold temperatures and single-digit wind chills. Snow could come with that cold, and the low temperatures are expected to stick around for much of next week.
Fayette County and other central and western Kentucky counties were placed under a high wind warning from noon to 7 p.m. Friday, according to the NWS. A wind advisory will begin after the high wind warning expires and last until 7 a..m. Saturday.
The NWS said wind gusts will gradually increase Friday afternoon into the evening. Wind gusts of 50 miles per hour are expected and some areas could see even higher wind gusts.
The wind speeds between Friday night and Saturday morning are expected to be between 40 and 50 miles per hour, the NWS said.
The wind gusts are expected to blow down trees, power lines and cause power outages, according to the NWS. It could also create hazardous traffic conditions and minor structural damage.
After the wind storm is over, the area is expected to see its coldest temperatures since December 2022, according to the NWS. The temperature is expected to peak in the low to mid 30s, but wind chill temperature will be as low as nine.
Temperatures aren’t expected to go above freezing until Thursday, according to the NWS. After that, another period of cold was expected Friday.
There are chances for snow Saturday night, Monday and Tuesday, but the amount of snow and when it could arrive were still unknown Friday afternoon, the NWS said.
Kentucky Power preparing for weekend weather
Kentucky Power, which covers a large portion of Eastern Kentucky, said it was preparing for power outages from the high wind speeds.
As of 6 p.m., the company said it had about 4,300 customers without power and 138 active outages.
“Sustained winds are expected to continue to affect our service area with frequent wind gusts from 45-55 mph and isolated gusts up to 60 mph. This will most likely cause downed trees and power outages,” the company said in an update.
The company said crews were “assessing damage and restoring power as it is safe to do so.”
The power company also encouraged people to prepare for outages themselves. Items that were recommended to be featured in an emergency kit include:
- Water for drinking and cooking
- Flashlights and fresh batteries
- Camping equipment like sleeping bags, camping stoves and lanterns
- Non-perishable food and a manual can opener
- Manufacturers’ instructions for a generator
- Instructions for how to manually open a garage door
- First aid kit and important over-the-counter medicines
- Fully charged cell phone and a battery backup
The company reminded people to keep away from downed power lines and anything touching them and to be alert for fallen trees.
Kentucky Power customers can stay up to date on outages and projected restoration times on the company’s outage website or mobile app.
Herald-Leader staff writer Karla Ward contributed to this report.
This story was originally published January 12, 2024 at 1:28 PM.
