Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews across the 12 westernmost counties of Kentucky in District 1 are continuing preparations for a significant snowfall during the overnight hours tonight into Thursday.
Initial accumulation estimates indicate this winter weather event has the potential to create travel issues during the overnight hours Wednesday and on the morning commute on Thursday.
The National Weather Service Paducah Office has issued a Winter Storm Warning for much of the region with a Winter Weather Advisory issued for the rest of the area from about 3:00 p.m., CST, Today, through about 6:00 p.m., CST, on Thursday.
The Weather Service has indicated about 3 to 5 inches of snow across much of the area with some winter mix mainly south and east of the Lakes Area. Some isolated areas of heavier accumulation is possible. The Weather Service specifically mentioned the potential for overnight travel issues. Please monitor the NWS or area news media for weather updates at this event progresses. Please be aware of changing localized driving conditions.
KY Highway Crews in District 1 have sent their “A” Team snow plow drivers home to rest, so they can be available for up to 16 hours of operation during the heaviest snowfall overnight and continued snow-fighting efforts on Thursday. Crew “B” Team members are continuing pre-treating activities by applying brine through the day, today. Motorists should be alert for slow moving trucks working along highways as crews go about their work.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is encouraging motorists to avoid overnight travel. Due to the intensity of snowfall overnight, motorists should use extra caution when they venture out on the morning commute, Thursday. Some travel challenges could continue into Thursday afternoon in areas with more intense snowfall amounts and heavier accumulation.
As highway crews prepare for the approaching snow and ice event, they continue to encourage drivers to do their part- Check your vehicle to assure it is ready for winter driving. In a recent Colorado Department of Transportation study, almost half of vehicles that ran off the road during early season snow and ice events had sub-standard tread on their tires.
Most tire stores will do a free tire tread check. Many tire stores have early season specials on tires to help motorists prepare for winter driving.
Here is a simplified summary of the NWS Conference Call on tonight’s Winter Weather Event.
A very rare early-season snow and ice event is likely to move into the Fulton/Hickman County area starting around 3:00 p.m., CST, today and move northward and eastward across Western Kentucky.
South of a line from about Mayfield to Central City along the Kentucky-Tennessee State Line we are looking at a possible winter mix.
In the Paducah area we are anticipating about a 3 to 5 inch snow event with snow mainly from about 6 p.m., CST, to about 4:00 a.m., Thursday. However, the Winter Storm Warning runs from 3:00 p.m., today, to about 6:00 p.m., Thursday, due to possible travel impacts continuing through the day Thursday.
Some localized bands of heavier snowfall are possible.
East of the Lakes area there is a greater chance of a winter mix to include sleet early-on in the event.
The weather service is concerned about potential travel impacts, particularly during the more intense snowfall between about 9:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., CST. We will be encourage people to avoid unnecessary travel during the overnight hours, and to use extra caution on the morning commute Thursday.
You can find graphics from the National Weather Service morning briefing here:
https://www.weather.gov/media/pah/sitreport/SitReport1.pdf
If that doesn’t connect go to www.weather.gov/pah and look under Weather Situation Report in the upper right corner of the page. Audio from the briefing may be available later in the day.
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.
Timely traffic advisories for the 11 counties of KYTC Highway District 2 are available by going to www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict2. You do not have to be a Facebook member to access this page.