FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — Gov. Beshear, Transportation Secretary Jim Gray and Kentucky Division of Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett said the next wave of wintry weather has begun in the state, bringing varying road conditions to counties. Heavy snow is reported in Western Kentucky, sleet in parts of Central Kentucky and freezing rain and ice in Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky.
“The conditions on our roads are deteriorating very quickly. Parts of Kentucky are getting significant snow, sleet and freezing rain or an ice storm. We’re one of the only states getting all three in a very significant way,” said Gov. Beshear. “We’ve come too far in the last 11 months protecting one another to lose people in an event like this.”
“Make no mistake: Our highway crews are working as hard as they can. We’re not letting up, but we’re going to be contending with heavy snow that’s hard to keep up with,” said Secretary Gray. “Clearing roadways of ice and snow can be treacherous for the people operating those plows. Our employees are very skilled but not immune to ice. We ask every Kentuckian to be patient and to help us by keeping travel to a minimum, and don’t travel at all if it can be avoided. Fewer vehicles on the roadways make it easier for our plow crews to do their job.”
“Every single county in Kentucky is under a winter storm watch or a warning. This second wave of wintry weather will produce much more snow and ice accumulation than the first,” said Director Dossett. “Travel will become difficult to impossible this afternoon and tonight. Power outages are possible due to snow and previous ice accumulations on trees and power lines. It’s an extremely dangerous time – please be careful.”
For snow and ice updates and resources, visit snowky.ky.gov [lnks.gd]. For updates on roadway conditions, visit goky.ky.gov [lnks.gd].
If Kentuckians lose power, they should call their utility company. If a household uses a generator, charcoal grill or another appliance to heat their home, they should never pull it inside the home because carbon monoxide poisoning could hurt or kill them. They should keep those heating devices at least 20 feet away from the home at all times.
