Weekend Update:
Sunshine moves into the region Saturday, melting some of the ice. Highway crews will continue to work on secondary roadways. Friday evening winds caused some major drifting in Graves County prompting the temporary closure of some roads. The drifts were between four and five feet deep.
A sunny forecast today will help prompt snow melt, but temperatures aren't expected to reach above freezing on Saturday. Sunday, a warm up begins with temperatures near 40 and above 40 expected on Monday.
Updated: 2:00 p.m. Friday.
Gov. Matt Bevin has declared a state of emergency, which went into effect at 1:30 this afternoon. The declaration allows local officials to immediately access state resources in order to clear roadways and take measures to ensure public safety.
“My primary concern is safety," said Bevin. "By declaring a state emergency we are giving emergency management the options they need to proactively respond to local needs. I thank all of the officials working hard to keep people safe and commerce flowing. We urge all citizens to remain at home and stay off of the roads allowing emergency services the opportunity to keep the roadways safe.”
A winter storm warning from the National Weather Service remains in effect through midnight as moderate to heavy snow continues Friday, tapering off in the evening. The highest accumulations of snow are in the Pennyrile Region, with 6-12 inches, less in the north and west. Travel is additionally hazardous today as gusty winds blow and drift the snow.
Forecast
Highs around 30 Friday, with blustery 17 to 20 mile per hour winds, gusting up to 30. Snow accumulations today of 4 to 8 inches. Snow tapers off this evening, making room for mostly sunny skies over the weekend. Highs reach the mid-30s on Sunday and mid-40s on Monday.
Hazardous Road Conditions
Thursday night, Gov. Matt Bevin cautioned residents to avoid all unnecessary travel. “Over the next 48 hours, a major winter storm is expected to impact many regions of Kentucky— potentially causing ice-related damage, service interruption and impassable roadways," said Bevin.
"With the sheer volume and rate of snowfall expected, it's unlikely that even main roads will be clear until after the storm subsides on Saturday."
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews will continue to work into the night to clear roads of snow and ice.
KYTC spokesman Keith Todd says the region’s major roadways are actually much better than he anticipated and that crews might get a chance to begin clearing some “C” routes Friday.
“Interstate 24 is fairly clear, until you get to about the 61 mile marker, and from there down to the Tennessee state line, there are still some slick spots through there," Todd said. "But a lot of I-24 is down to wet pavement. Some of our major routes also are.”
Todd says secondary and rural roads are still snow-packed and urges extreme caution if you have to leave home.
Power Outages
There are currently isolated power outages in the region. More than 1000 people in Calloway County are without power, located mainly south of Murray. Approximately 900 people in Hickman County are without power.
