Shortly before 10 p.m. Monday, the National Weather Service at Paducah canceled a winter storm warning eight hours before it was originally slated to expire Tuesday morning.
The NWS had predicted Hopkinsville would see 6 to 12 inches of snow accumulation from late Sunday to early Tuesday. But the outcome was considerably less. Late Monday, as snowfall ended, it appeared Hopkinsville had less than 4 inches of accumulation.
However, that accumulation was still enough to create hazardous driving conditions, and some businesses sent workers home early on Monday, including Kroger, which closed around 6 p.m.
“Some areas of very light snow and blowing snow may continue for much of the night, but additional accumulations are not expected,” an official in the Paducah NWS office reported.
Shortly before 10 a.m. Tuesday, the Christian County Sheriff’s Office reported several crashes on Interstate 24 with lanes blocked at the following mile-markers: 70, 73, 85 and 86.
“We can’t stress enough, if you don’t have to be out, stay home,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post. “If you absolutely have to get out in this mess, use extreme caution and slow down.”
Tuesday will be bitter cold with a wind chill as low as 7 degrees below zero, according to the NWS forecast. Meteorologists are watching a second storm system that could impact Hopkinsville beginning Wednesday. There is a 40% chance of snow Wednesday, followed by a 90% chance of a wintry mix Wednesday night and during the day Thursday.
Temperatures will edge above freezing this weekend with a high near 37 on Saturday and 44 on Sunday, the forecast indicates.
Local officials announced the following closures and cancellations:
- Christian County Chamber of Commerce — closed Tuesday.
- Christian County Health Department — Canton Street facility closed Tuesday.
- Bruce Center regional vaccine clinic — closed Tuesday. Appointments rescheduled for Friday.
- City of Hopkinsville — non-essential offices closed until Monday, Feb. 22, with employees working from home when possible.
- Hopkinsville City Council — Tuesday meeting canceled.
- Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority — main office and Forbes Building drive-thru lanes closed Tuesday. Customers can make payments by calling 270-887-4246 or online.
- Hopkinsville Electric System — main office closed Tuesday. Customers can make payments online or call 270-887-4200 for customer service.
- Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library — closed Monday and Tuesday.
- Hopkinsville Community College — all classes will meet virtually Tuesday and Wednesday, while campus offices are closed. Students may access virtual services online.
- Pennyroyal Arts Council — all activities at the Alhambra Theatre this week are canceled; however, the Big Read kickoff will go on with Circe author Madeline Miller’s virtual talk at 6 p.m. Thursday.
- Hopkinsville YMCA — closed Tuesday.
- Thomas Street Recreation Center — closed Monday and Tuesday.
- Planters Bank-Jennie Stuart Health Sportsplex — closed Monday and Tuesday.
- Christian County Public Schools — no in-person instruction Tuesday. The district will have non-traditional instruction. Extracurricular activities and food services canceled Tuesday.
- Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County — closed Tuesday.
- State government offices — closed Tuesday.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
