Central KY braces for winter storm. Here’s when the NWS says snow, sleet will start
Lexington and much of Kentucky woke up to bitter cold temperatures and a sub-zero wind chills Saturday ahead of a large winter storm expected to bring dangerous conditions, heavy snowfall and sleet to the area this weekend.
Central Kentucky is under a cold weather advisory from the National Weather Service through noon Saturday, as well as a winter storm warning through 7 a.m. Monday.
In a Saturday morning update, the agency said the storm is expected to dump heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain across much of Kentucky. South of the Bluegrass and Western parkways, the NWS forecasts 4 to 8 inches of snow and sleet with half an inch of ice possible, and total snow accumulations between 10 and 15 inches.
The storm is expected to kick up prolonged dangerous conditions, including power outages and downed trees, making travel “nearly impossible.”
The NWS forecasts an inch to 2 inches of snow during daylight hours Saturday starting around noon and occasional snow picking up by 3 p.m. Freezing rain and sleet are expected Sunday morning into the afternoon, the weather service’s hourly forecast shows.
In a post on X, the agency called for a “best case scenario” of 6 inches of snow in Lexington, with lower amounts to areas south of Fayette County. That forecast includes a 10% chance of higher snowfall amounts, however, reaching 15 inches in the city.
Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency Friday morning, a move mimicked by Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton later that afternoon.
“We are all hands on deck for this upcoming storm,” Gorton said at a Jan. 23 news conference.
The city has designated its fleet — supplemented by contractors — to clear roadways, opened warming shelters and options for the unhoused, banned parking along emergency snow routes, increased staff levels for emergency responders and asked the public to limit travel.
Lexington’s emergency operations center opened at 8 a.m. Saturday, the city said in a news release Saturday.
The city’s LexCall hotline, reached by calling 311, opened for extended hours Saturday and Sunday. The city said customer service representatives would be “available to take weather-related reports and provide helpful information” until 11 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman also activated his office’s price gouging hotline Saturday, saying “During rough weather like this, Kentuckians should only be concerned about their families’ safety, not whether they are being exploited.”
People who suspect price gouging during the storm can call 888-432-9257 or make a report online.
Herald-Leader staff writer Karla Ward contributed to this report.
This story was originally published January 24, 2026 at 11:40 AM.