Snowstorm causes delays, cancellations in Lexington. More snow expected through midday
An overnight snowstorm kicked off several days of bitter cold in Central Kentucky, and more snow is expected Wednesday evening.
Lexington received 1.8 inches of snow from the storm, according to NWS meteorologist Ron Steve. Areas south of Louisville reported 3 inches, while 3.8 inches of snow fell in Pine Grove.
The NWS branch in Paducah reported 3 inches of snow, but wind has caused snow drift to pill up to 12 inches. Gov. Andy Beshear said the far western part of the state received 8 inches of snow, while other areas got 6 inches.
“The snowstorm is significant enough there where we’re not able to get a number of vehicles out on the roads, so that’s going to delay some of the road openings in counties,” Beshear said.
The snow is expected to taper off midday Wednesday. At 9:20 a.m. the NWS canceled the winter storm warning, saying snow has diminished over the area and drier air conditions are coming behind the departing snowstorm.
Light snow or flurries are still possible Wednesday, according to the NWS. A winter weather advisory will be in effect from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m. Thursday due to another round of snow that could bring another inch of snow to the area.
Areas in Eastern Kentucky are still in a winter storm warning until about noon, according to the NWS.
The overnight snow caused hazardous conditions on the roads and impact traffic for the morning commute. The NWS said traffic cameras showed snow-covered roads, especially side roads.
On Tuesday, Lexington Director of Emergency Management Rob Larkin encouraged people to stay home if possible and allow the road crews to treat the roads.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 7 said its personnel is patrolling and treating routes in 12 counties.
Lexington police respond to numerous collisions
The Lexington Police Department responded to 16 collisions between 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., according to Lt. Dillan Taylor. One of the collisions left a man with life-threatening injuries.
The crash happened around 7:17 a.m. on Athens Boonesboro Road near I-75. Taylor said it was a single-vehicle collision, and the lone occupant of the vehicle was transported to a hospital.
There was no information about what caused the crash or if weather was a factor. The Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating the crash.
There are no major road shutdowns due to the crash, Taylor said.
Beshear reported a collision involving a KYTC snow plow Wednesday morning. The crash happened around 6:45 a.m. on I-24 in Lyon County.
Beshear said a semi truck rear-ended the snow plow but no injuries were reported. Hazardous road conditions and low visibility contributed to the crash.
The snow plow returned to work two hours later after repairs, according to Beshear.
Cancelations, delays impacted by snow storm
Fayette County Public Schools announced it will be closed Wednesday and use non-traditional instruction opportunities. The University of Kentucky originally said it was operating on a two-hour delay, but shortly after 9 a.m. it announced it was canceling classes for the entire day.
“University officials made this decision to allow additional time to clear city roads. We also want to provide more time for university crews to ensure UK roads, sidewalks and parking lots are clear tomorrow as we anticipate and prepare for being open for normal operating hours,” the university said in a statement.
Lexington city offices that are not involved in winter weather response are operating on a two-hour delay.
Two early morning departing flights out of Blue Grass Airport have already been canceled, according to the airport’s flight status board. An additional Delta Air Lines flight has been delayed.
At 10 a.m. there was only one delayed departing flight on the airport’s flight status board. All other departing flights were scheduled to depart on time.
Eastern Kentucky snowfall report days after serious flooding
The winter storm is ongoing in Eastern Kentucky, leaving inches of snow on a region already reeling from devastating floods this past weekend.
About 3.3 inches of snow fell in Estill County, according to NWS meteorologist Pete Geogerian. That amount is among the highest in the region. Most places reported between 1 and 2 1/2 inches of snow.
A snow band is over the southeastern counties of Kentucky Wednesday morning, and it is expected to last for a few hours. The snow will be moderate to heavy at times, and it’s expected to taper off by midday to early afternoon.
The snow accumulation is not expected to reach the upper end of earlier projections because of the colder temperatures, according to the NWS.
River levels continue to recede across the state, according to the NWS. However, the Cumberland River at Williamsburg and the Kentucky River at Ravenna will remain above flood stage until sometime Thursday.
In Laurel County, Sheriff John Root reported that as 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, major roads such as Interstate 75 and the Hal Rogers Parkway, as well as secondary roads, were covered by snow and ice and were slick and hazardous.
The temperature was 16 degrees and there were 4 1/2 inches of snow on the ground with more falling, Root’s office said in a release. The release said there had been “numerous crashes” in the county and advised staying off the roads except in an emergency.
Expect cold temperatures in Kentucky
Bitter cold temperatures are expected Wednesday and Thursday mornings. The NWS said some areas could see negative wind chill values Wednesday while values in Lexington are expected to reach as low as three degrees.
A cold weather advisory is in effect from 1 a.m. Wednesday to 11 a.m. Thursday. The NWS said frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures for a prolonged period of time.
“This is really two days of very concerning, low temperatures,” Beshear said. “It’s also going to complicate our work on the roads, make it a little tougher, especially on ice.”
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office activated its Winter Care Program because of the cold temperatures. The program provides transportation to and from employment for health care workers as well as transportation to medical appointments, welfare checks for most vulnerable citizens and distribution of winter coats.
Anyone in need of assistance is encouraged to call the sheriff’s office at 859-252-1771 and ask for winter care.
An additional round of snow is possible Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, according to the NWS. The new snowfall could leave behind an additional half-inch to an inch.
The moisture associated with the storm isn’t significant enough to cause snow squalls but high snow ratios are expected, according to the NWS. The snow is expected to come down between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m.
A winter weather advisory is in effect until 7 a.m. Thursday.
This story was originally published February 19, 2025 at 7:30 AM.
