Winter Storm Fern cleanup continues. What are Lexington road conditions like?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Mayor extends state of emergency; crews run 24-hour ops to clear major routes.
- Officials urge motorists to avoid nonessential travel and allow crews to work.
- Police warn of ice and black ice; check city updates and travel with an emergency kit.
Lexington drivers are still encouraged to stay off the roads Tuesday as the city continues to clear heavy snow and ice left behind by Winter Storm Fern.
Mayor Linda Gorton extended the city’s state of emergency to at least Wednesday morning, which keeps the city’s emergency operations center open and places its public safety divisions on 24-hour schedules. Crews with the streets and roads department are still actively clearing roads, with a primary focus on the major routes.
Lexington Emergency Management said staying off the roads “helps street crews and first responders to work quickly and effectively.”
City crews and contractors use a ranking system to clear roads throughout Fayette County after snowfall.
The predicted high temperature for Lexington Tuesday is 25 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Weather Service.
Gov. Andy Beshear said many state routes have been cleared and road crews continue to make good progress.
“Today we’re going to make good progress,” Beshear said during a Tuesday morning news conference. “For areas with power, we hope you’ll return to relative normalcy tomorrow, but remember, it will still be dangerously cold, and you can still encounter ice on any roadway.”
Nearly 1,500 state and contracted highway trucks have covered 670,000 miles since Friday, which is enough to circle the earth more than 26 times, Beshear said. Many routes have been plowed multiple times.
“It’s impressive, but not unexpected,” Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray said during the news conference. “They will drive as many miles as it takes to Kentuckians safe.”
If drivers do go out on the roads, the Lexington Police Department said to expect ice and black ice, especially on bridges and overpasses. Drivers are encouraged to clear all snow and ice off their vehicles, drive slowly, keep distance between themselves and other vehicles and travel with an emergency kit.
“Due to extremely cold temperatures, motorists should expect ice and black ice on roadways, especially on bridges and overpasses,” LPD wrote in a Tuesday morning Facebook post. “Remember that salt and de-icers work well, but the extremely low temperatures will slow them down. We are asking motorists to SLOW DOWN and use caution while on the roads.”
The streets and roads department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Between midnight and 7 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to 11 traffic hazards, eight reports of a motorist or other individual needing assistance and five escorts. No collisions were reported, according to police.
Drivers can check the status of the roads on the city’s snow and ice updates webpage. They can also check the city’s live traffic cameras to get real-time views of the road conditions.
This story was originally published January 27, 2026 at 9:22 AM.
