Governor declares state of emergency due to extreme cold and high winds
PADUCAH, Ky. (DEC. 22, 2022) – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 2 crews are bracing for a blast of frigid winter weather that will roll across the region later today. Gov. Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency.
District 1, which covers Kentucky’s 12 westernmost counties, has been upgraded to a Winter Weather Warning by the National Weather Service. The updated forecast includes a low temperature of -5 overnight with a wind chill of -30 degrees. Snow accumulation is expected to be in the 2 to 4-inch range. Combined with winds gusting to 40 miles per hour, highway crews will be facing near blizzard conditions overnight.
Due to the extreme weather, KYTC is asking the public to avoid travel. With the extreme cold something as simple as a dead battery or flat tire can become a life-threatening situation. Frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less.
The District 1 Snow & Ice Team will be carefully monitoring weather and roadway conditions as temperatures plummet later today. “A” team crews will be reporting around 3:30 p.m., and be available to respond to the winter storm through about 7 a.m., Friday. “B” team crews will come in during the early-morning hours Friday so the the shifts can overlap for a couple of hours around daybreak.
Crews will do their best to make highways as safe as possible. However, the extreme cold will severely limit the ability to improve driving conditions – especially at night. The impact of salt and other ice-fighting chemicals is diminished once temperatures drop below the mid-teens. The impact is further reduced once temperatures reach the single digits.
High winds in the 30 to 40 mile per hour range will create the possibility of downed trees and drifting snow.
Just as highway crews prep their equipment for snow and ice, motorists are asked to check their personal vehicle with special attention to tire tread and coolant anti-freeze to assure it is winter weather ready. Motorists are advised to avoid travel due to the likelihood of hazardous driving conditions. If you do venture out, please be fully prepared for hazards created by the extreme cold.
Motorists are advised to monitor the developing forecast via area news media outlets or go to the National Weather Service Louisville Office page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSPaducah. Graphics with the Winter Weather Warning can be found at https://www.weather.gov/media/pah/DssPacket.pdf.
Tips on putting together a winter travel kit for your vehicle can be found at www.ready.gov/Winter. Snow Priority Route maps and additional tips for winter driving are available at SnowKY.KY.Gov.
To get traffic advisories and alerts for KYTC District 1 counties via email please go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/KYTC/signup/13651. Click on the District 1 counties you regularly drive through, or on any of the specialty corridors you travel. Check your SPAM filtering to assure Gov Delivery is on your approved list.
Timely traffic advisories for the 12 counties of KYTC Highway District 1 are available by going to www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1. You do not have to be a Facebook member to access this page.