Environment

A Tennessee Valley Authority spokesman says at least 1,200 interruptible service contract customers participated in helping the utility get through the high demand for power during this week’s arctic cold.

Duncan Mansfield said Murray State University, which shut down power Monday night, was the only such customer in western Kentucky.

Tennessee Valley Authority preliminary figures show power demand at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning reached the second highest winter peak in TVA history.

The utility reports preliminary power demand reached 32,460 megawatts as temperatures averaged 4 degrees across the region. That's 112 fewer megawatts than the record winter demand set in January 2009.

Here is a list of area closings for January 7, 2014 due to extreme cold and/or snow and ice. (THIS POST WILL BE UPDATED)

Due to a power outage, the main campus of Murray State University is closed and will remain closed Tuesday. This is effective for the main campus only. All other extended campuses will be open. Additionally, the university will host, as planned, the open house for tomorrow at 3:00 pm for the new Crisp Center in Paducah. See more about the power outage.

Poet Max Garland's reading, scheduled for 7:30 Tuesday night, has been moved from campus to the Murray Convention and Visitors Bureau, located at 201 South 4th St.

The region’s dangerously cold temperatures could bring some benefits later in the year in the form of a smaller flea and tick population.  But according to entomologist Doug Johnson of the University of Kentucky’s Princeton extension office, they’re resourceful animals.  He says fleas, once indoors on a human or a pet brought in from the cold, can thrive, surviving on waste or debris until they mature.  Johnson says ticks, by contrast, live mostly outdoors, and are more susceptible to cold.

There was an organizational meeting for the Friends of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park in November with the stated purposes of revitalizing existing facilities; expanding visitor options;  and adding to our region's outdoor recreation tourism. Hydrologist John Tillson is among the founders of the new Friends group and speaks with Kate Lochte about the group's inspiration:  the Marshall County High School Mountain BikeTeam, which distinguished itself in competitions shortly after its formation.

UPDATED MONDAY JAN. 6:

There was little of the predicted snowfall throughout the region last night. But that didn’t stop the cold. The National Weather Service reports a wind chill advisory for much of western Kentucky and southern Illinois. The advisory will stay in affect until 9 a.m. Tuesday.

A wind chill advisory means that very cold air and strong winds will combine to generate wind chills of 10 below zero to 25 below zero. This will result in frostbite and lead to hypothermia if precautions are not taken.

The NHS warns if you must venture outdoors wear a hat and gloves.

According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet the lack of snow does not mean the roads are unaffected. With rain dampened road surfaces crews are concerned about dropping temperatures causing moisture to flash freeze in 30 minutes or less. Drivers are urged to use caution. 

National Weather Service Forecasters are revising their forecast for this weekend's winter storm and extreme cold.

Rain will change to snow from northwest to southeast across the area from late tonight through early Sunday afternoon. Periods of heavy snowfall are expected with accumulations ranging from 5 to 10 inches over southeast Missouri, southern Illinois and southwest Indiana.

Two to five inches can be expected over west Kentucky. A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for much of the area, and a Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for southeast portions of west Kentucky.

Brutally cold air will surge southeast through the region on the strength of gusty northwest winds Sunday afternoon through Monday. Temperatures will be below zero over much of the area from Sunday night through early Tuesday, and wind chills will generally range from 10 below to 30 below zero during this period.

Illinois officials are extending the controlled pheasant hunting season at three state sites.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday the extended seasons for several days in January at each location.

The seasons will be extended at Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area in Clinton County, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area in Cass County and Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area in Franklin and Jefferson Counties.

State officials are reminding Kentuckians that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will provide grants to partially pay for projects that help clean up polluted streams, lakes and groundwater supplies.

The deadline for submitting proposals is February 3.

The Kentucky Division of Water is the agency that awards the matching grants that pay for 60% of the overall costs of projects chosen.

Although Kentucky’s fall forest fire hazard season officially ended December 15th, Kentucky Division of Forestry officials say people should remain vigilant when burning or building fires out in the open.  

KDF Director Leah MacSwords says even though winter precipitation decreases the number of forest fires, it only takes a few sunny dry days to create favorable conditions.