Thousands still without power as Kentucky digs out from winter storm
READ MORE
Kentucky is hit with significant winter storm
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for many areas of the state.
Expand All
Thousands of Kentuckians remained without power Tuesday morning as crews worked around the clock to clear roads and dig out from a two-day storm of snow and ice that paralyzed much of the region.
And more may be on the way this weekend.
The major winter storm dumped 7 inches of snow and about a half-inch of ice on Central Kentucky Sunday and Monday, leading to wholesale flight cancellations, dangerous road conditions and downed trees and power lines. A state of emergency was declared for Kentucky, as well as for at least 20 counties and 14 cities, including Lexington.
Temperatures are expected to remain well below freezing for the next few days before another potential round of snow hits the region beginning on Friday.
“While there is fairly high confidence in some wintry precipitation in the region, confidence in specific amounts is lower,” the National Weather Service said.
Highs Tuesday through Friday were expected to be in the 20s for much of the region, possibly hitting 30 degrees some days, while lows could be in the single digits, the weather service said. Thursday morning is expected to be the coldest, with temperatures around 2 degrees forecast for Lexington overnight Wednesday.
Gov. Andy Beshear said in an update Tuesday that there have been no deaths or significant injuries reported as a result of the storm, but officials are concerned about the safety of people whose power is still out because of the storm.
As of just before 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, 26,792 utility customers in Kentucky did not have electricity, according to Poweroutage.us, which tracks outages nationwide. Most of the outages were concentrated in Eastern Kentucky, though a few counties along the Ohio River in Western Kentucky still had significant outages.
The tracker showed 324 in Fayette County without power. In Central Kentucky, Anderson, Spencer and Bullitt counties still had around 1,000 without power early Tuesday afternoon.
Beshear said outage numbers are fluctuating. The weight of ice and snow on tree limbs can cause new outages as limbs fall on power lines, and utility companies sometimes must turn off power so they can safely restore power.
Beshear said warming centers are open or on standby, particularly in counties with more than 1,000 outages. He specifically mentioned locations in Henderson, Johnson, Morgan and Spencer counties.
While county emergency management officials should be the first called for help, people who can’t find a warming center or shelter can call 800-255-2587, Kentucky Emergency Management said in a social media post.
In Lexington, people who need shelter or who see someone who may be in need were asked to call LexCall at 311 to be connected with the Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention. After business hours, people can call the Street Outreach team at (859) 551-8053 or (859) 556-1870, or call 911 in an emergency, the city said in a news release Monday.
Road clearing efforts
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said crews in District 7, which includes Fayette and surrounding counties, worked overnight “clearing shoulders, turn lanes, crossovers and ramps. Brush and tree removal operations also continue.”
City snow removal crews are still working 24 hours a day to keep roads clear, Lexington city government said in a news release Tuesday morning.
Mayor Linda Gorton said late Monday that most of the city’s main roads are passable.
Beshear said the state had received multiple reports of traffic-related incidents on slick roads, and officials urged motorists to slow down and allow plenty of travel time to get to their destinations.
“Temperatures that are extremely low can cause refreezing with wet pavement,” the Transportation Cabinet said in a news release. “Hazardous conditions are forecast for this evening and overnight.
“Motorists should remember that as temperatures decline there is also the possibility of black ice. Black ice can form on previously treated asphalt and concrete. Ice develops on bridges, overpasses, and ramps prior to surface level roadways.”
Lexington city government said the city’s traffic management account on the social media platform X, @lexwrecks, would provide the latest information about trouble spots in Lexington. The city’s traffic cameras at lexingtonky.gov/traffic also provide real-time views of major intersections..
Between midnight and 11 a.m. Tuesday, the Lexington Police Department responded to seven non-injury collisions, two crashes with injuries, six traffic hazards and 27 calls for motorist assistance, the city said in a news release.
Tuesday and Wednesday are snow days for Fayette County Public Schools. Tuesday’s after-school and evening activities have also been canceled.
The University of Kentucky also said it was canceling all in-person activities for Tuesday. UK HealthCare facilities are open.
Lexington city government offices are closed Tuesday for a second business day, as is the Fayette County Clerk’s Office.
The city said Dunbar, Castlewood, Kenwick, Tates Creek and William Wells Brown community centers are closed, as is the City Employee Pharmacy and Dr. Samuel Brown Health Center.
While city parks are open, Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, Hilsle Park and McConnell Springs Park are closed, as are city golf courses.
In light of the state of emergency declaration, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office said they had set up a price gouging hotline. People who suspect price gouging can report it to the AG’s office online or by calling 888-432-9257.
Officials reminded people to use generators safely by keeping them at least 20 feet from structures and using extension cords rated for outdoor use.
People should also be careful with heat sources in their homes and avoid using ovens for heat.
Beshear said people can conserve heat in their homes by closing blinds, blocking cracks under doors with towels and remembering to eat and drink to keep their energy up.
He reminded citizens to avoid downed power lines.
“We need you to be careful,” he said during the news conference.
This story was originally published January 7, 2025 at 8:38 AM.
