(PADUCAH, Ky.) — Highway crews across western Kentucky will blanket area roads with salt brine over the next two days as a significant winter storm bears down on the region, transportation officials announced Wednesday.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s District 1 began deploying spray trucks Thursday in preparation for a winter storm expected to dump more than four inches of snow on the area starting late Friday, with hazardous conditions persisting through Sunday afternoon.
“Motorists should watch out for slow-moving spray trucks and support vehicles on the roadways,” KYTC officials said in a statement. Crews aim to pre-treat most, if not all, state highways in the 12-county district before the storm arrives.
The pre-treatment strategy involves spraying roads with liquid brine that dries into a salt powder. When precipitation begins falling, the powder activates and prevents snow and ice from bonding to pavement, making it easier for plows to clear roads later.
Storm Forecast Worsening
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch covering all of District 1, with forecasters now predicting an 80-90% chance of accumulations exceeding four inches. The Paducah area faces a prolonged deep freeze, with wind chills plummeting to near zero Friday night, minus-6 degrees Saturday, and remaining dangerously cold through early next week.
High temperatures aren’t expected to climb above freezing until Tuesday or Wednesday, meaning road conditions could remain treacherous for days. Officials warned travelers to expect “moderate to major travel impacts.”
Major Response Mobilized
District 1 will deploy approximately 87 snow plows, five specialized tow-plows, and several contracted plows to cover 2,852 miles of highway across Kentucky’s westernmost counties. The district’s Snow and Ice Team will monitor conditions hourly and adjust deployment strategies as the storm evolves.
Transportation officials urged residents to prepare now by winterizing vehicles and assembling emergency car kits. Anyone who must travel during the storm should exercise extreme caution and reduce speed significantly, as even pre-treated roads may be slick.
Drivers can monitor real-time road conditions at GoKY.ky.gov and access winter weather resources at SnowKY.ky.gov. The National Weather Service Paducah provides updates on Facebook at facebook.com/NWSPaducah.
