Winter storm barrels into Kentucky, bringing snow, ice and plenty of headaches

This is a live update file from the Herald-Leader’s coverage Sunday of the winter storm. For Monday’s coverage, visit here.

As Winter Storm Blair blankets Central Kentucky with a thick layer of snow and ice Sunday evening, state and local officials are urging residents to stay off the roads and prepare for power outages.

The first wave of snow began early Sunday and conditions worsened throughout the day into the evening as snow was replaced by freezing rain. The ice-and-sleety mix fell on top of the morning snow, snarling traffic, closing Kentucky’s three major airports and closing dozens of churches, restaurants and stores.

Campus offices at the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Western Kentucky also will be closed Monday.

The latest forecast from the National Weather Office has much of the state under a winter weather warning continuing through 7 p.m. Monday. Most counties in southern Kentucky are under a winter weather advisory.

The storm system is expected to bring dangerous conditions to Kentucky, with snowfall to fall in some parts of the commonwealth forecast as high as 10 inches and ice accumulation up to three-quarters of an inch.

The weather woes in the commonwealth are part of a treacherous storm system hammering more than a dozen states.

Late Sunday night, more than 60 million people were under winter alerts nationwide as the potent mix of snow, ice and blizzard conditions slammed the Central Plains, across the heartland to the mid-Atlantic, accompanied by winds gusting up to 50 mph.

“For some, this could be the heaviest snowfall in over a decade,” NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center warned.

Snow and sleet totals could reach 2 inches, with an accumulation of a half an inch of ice. Snow and freezing rain will continue into Monday morning with about a total of 1 to 4 inches of snow, according to the weather service.

Thundersnow, sleet and freezing rain are possible throughout Sunday afternoon and into Monday.

Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency in advance of the storm Saturday afternoon. Lexington officials followed suit Sunday with a snow emergency declaration.

Bluegrass Airport cancels Sunday flights

5:40 p.m. — All arrivals and departures to and from the Bluegrass Airport have been canceled, according to their website.

Airlines affected include Delta, American Airlines, Allegiant and United.

The two other major airports in Kentucky also were affected. Flights to and from the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport were canceled, and the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Airport canceled all but the 6:40 p.m. flight to Denver.

UK closes, in-person activities canceled

5 p.m. — The University of Kentucky announced Sunday night it will be closed and in-person activities are canceled Monday for inclement weather.

Only designated personnel will be required to report to campus. UK HealthCare facilities will remain open.

Lexington accident statistics

4:20 p.m. — Between 5 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, the Lexington Police Department responded to 30 non-injury collisions, 10 injury collisions, 11 traffic hazards and 40 calls for motorist assistance.

Drivers are asked to travel only if necessary. Roadways, especially bridges and overpasses, can be hazardous in the snow and ice.

More closures

4 p.m. — Fayette County Public Schools students were not scheduled to return from winter break until Tuesday. A staff work day was scheduled for Monday. But shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday, district officials announced all in-person activities are canceled due to inclement weather.

3:42 p.m. — Western Kentucky University said in a Sunday afternoon release it would close all campuses Monday. Online courses are set to proceed.

City of Lexington closes offices

3:40 p.m. — The city offices of Lexington will be closed on Monday, according to officials.

The clerk’s office and the health department will be closed, and trash and recycling services with the city will be suspended.

Hospital closures due to inclement weather

2:30 p.m. — University of Kentucky HealthCare has closed several of their non-emergent facilities, the organization reported Sunday afternoon.

The UK Twilight Children’s Clinic closed at 1 p.m. Sunday. The clinic’s nurse triage line will remain active.

The acute care clinics at UK HealthCare Fountain Court and UK HealthCare at Turfland closed as of 2 p.m.

Lexington declares emergency as city prepares for snow burst

2:02 p.m. — Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton has declared a snow emergency, activated the city’s emergency management center and placed all public safety staff on 24-hour shifts until Thursday.

“I’m putting all hands on deck,” Gorton said in a Sunday afternoon release.

At this stage, the emergency declaration does not ban people from parking on snow evacuation roads, which are many major Lexington roads. However, the mayor and city officials are encouraging people to move vehicles from city streets so snow plows can more easily remove snow.

Burst of afternoon snow headed for Lexington

1:30 p.m. — Within the next hour, the Lexington metro area will be seeing another round of heavy snowfall, according to the NWS Louisville office.

Snow rates could be up to 2 inches per hour with visibility down to quarter of a mile. This is expected to contibute to already hazardous and impassable road conditions throughout much of Central Kentucky.

State closes public buildings

1 p.m. — Beshear has ordered all state buildings be closed Monday as a result of the winter storm.

Inclement conditions are expected to continue into Monday, followed by extreme cold next week.

State executive branch agencies will continue to provide emergency services.

Accidents reported across the commonwealth

In a post on X, Beshear encouraged Kentuckians to remain safe and stay off the roadways.

12:50 p.m. — Kentucky State Police Trooper Landon Key has been taken to the hospital after their cruiser was struck on Interstate 65 in Hart County.

He had just finished working a collision on Interstate 65 at the 57-mile marker northbound.. He was still on the outside shoulder with his emergency equipment activated when his state police cruiser was rear-ended by a vehicle traveling north.

Key is receiving treatment at the hospital for non-life threatening injuries, according to state police.

State traffic maps show a dozen traffic accidents on the I-65 corridor as of 12:50 p.m.

Crews on standby to help with outages

12 p.m. — As road conditions continue to worsen, more than 1,000 restoration crews are on standby to help restore any outages. As of noon, much of Kentucky remains with power as snowfall blankets the area.

11:55 a.m. — Southern Kentucky has also seen significant snowfall Sunday morning.

The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office reported at 11:30 a.m. that all roads in the county were covered by a mix of snow and ice and were “very slick and hazardous.”

The release noted there had been numerous crashes on the roads and asked people to limit travel to emergencies only.

11:50 a.m. — The University of Kentucky canceled events Sunday due to the weather, and closed the Gatton Student Center. The student radio WRFL-FM is playing pre-recorded music as of 2 a.m.

No decision for winter term classes and events Monday had been made as of 11:45 a.m. Sunday.

”We are monitoring winter weather this weekend and into tomorrow,” the university said in a post on social media Sunday morning.

Road conditions worsening

11:10 a.m. — Road conditions in parts of the commonwealth are becoming dangerous, officials report.

In a post on X, Beshear reported a stretch of Interstate 64 near mile marker 21 in Jefferson County was closed due to multiple vehicle crashes. Officials urge residents to stay off the roads as conditions worsen into Sunday afternoon.

Just before 10 a.m., snow and whipping wind was already limiting visibility on Interstate 75 in between Northern Kentucky and Lexington. Traffic was contained mostly to one lane as snow gathered in the others.

Road conditions around Lexington as of 11:22 a.m. are deteriorating. Snowfall has covered both lanes of major roads like Man O’ War, and traffic is moving slowly. The mayor has urged residents to avoid travel.

11 a.m. — Much of Sunday morning’s forecast for Lexington consists of heavy snow until the afternoon when sleet, snow, ice and thunderstorms are possible, according to the National Weather Service office in Louisville.

By Sunday night, the weather service expects anywhere from 3 to 5 inches of a sleet and snow mix with about a quarter-inch of ice. Temperatures will remain in the 20s.

Freezing rain and sleet are expected from midnight into early Monday morning, according to the NWS. Sleet accumulation is expected to reach 2 inches, with approximately half an inch of ice.

Going into Monday afternoon, forecasters expect more snow and freezing rain with temperatures remaining in the 20s. Those temperatures will drop throughout Monday night to the mid-teens with more snow and flurries likely.

Blue Grass Airport flights canceled, library branches closed

11:00 a.m. — The Lexington Public Library will not open any of its branches Sunday due to snow, according to a press release. The library’s virtual library can be accessed at lexpublib.org.

In addition, almost all flights out of Blue Grass Airport in Lexington have been canceled, according to its website. Only flights going west, those to Las Vegas, Nev., and Tuscon, Ariz., are continuing as scheduled. The airport is asking passengers to contact airlines directly for updated information.

Lextran is operating, but is limiting some of its stops, according to its social media posts. If you are unsure of the nearest snow plan stop, visit http://Lextran.com and check the route page “snow plan” tab.

The YMCA of Central Kentucky has altered its Sunday hours as a result of the storm, as well. The YMCA’s branches opened at 8 a.m., but will close at noon, according to the YMCA’s Facebook page.

10:30 a.m. — Roads throughout the state are quickly becoming coated in snow, making travel nearly impossible.

Traffic cameras show live road conditions in Fayette County, and in most areas where crews have worked, the roads were again quickly covered by a new, fresh blanket of snow as of mid-morning.

People can view the road conditions in real-time on the city’s website. Additionally, you can see real-time driving conditions across the state here.

If you must go out, drive with caution. Transportation officials encourage drivers to prepare and plan their routes and make use of these resources.

8:46 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 5 — Lexington has postponed the swearing-in ceremony for the 15-member Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council due to a winter storm expected to hit the area with a combination of snow, rain, sleet and possibly ice.

The council, which will have five new members this year, was slated to be sworn in Sunday. That ceremony has now been moved to Sunday, Jan. 12.

Friday, Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton encouraged area residents to prepare for the potential storm and asked people to stay off roads Sunday and Monday to allow crews to remove snow.

Rob Allen, the city’s director of the streets, said crews began pre-treating roads Friday with a mixture of salt and Beet Heet, a derivative of beets that helps salt stick to roads and is more environmentally friendly than salt.

Crews will continue to work in 12-hour shifts throughout the storm event, Allen said.

In addition, Lexington fire and emergency management personnel warned residents about using alternative heat sources if the power goes out.

Here’s some tips:

• Never operate a generator indoors. All generators should be used outside
• Keep alternative heat sources, such as space heaters, at least 3 feet away from combustible item such as furniture and curtains.
• Make sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors work

Lexington residents can get updates on the city’s snow removal efforts at www.lexingtonky.gov/snowupdates.

This story was originally published January 5, 2025 at 10:32 AM.