See drone pictures, video from Lexington’s first snowfall of 2022

Thursday’s snowfall not only blanketed Lexington in deep snow, it’s 9.9 inches made it the seventh snowiest day in the city’s history, according to a press release from the city.

The National Weather Service said Lexington broke the previous record for snowfall on Jan. 6, set in 1910.

The snowstorm, which began late Thursday morning and picked up intensity in the afternoon, created a large mess on all of the city’s roads for most of the day. With poor driving conditions, state and local leaders urged people to stay off the roads. Portions of Interstate 75, the Western Kentucky Parkway and Interstate 71 had to be shut down and Gov. Andy Besher declared a state of emergency in Kentucky for the first snowfall in 2022.

Over Thursday and Friday, photos and drone video showed people in Lexington battling the snow, trying to cleanup and dig out from it, trying to navigate and drive around it, and even trying to have some fun in it.

Despite temperatures below 20 degrees, the hill at the former Shriner’s Hospital on Richmond Road was packed with sledders of all ages enjoying the snow.

This story was originally published January 7, 2022 at 7:23 PM.