With a winter storm watch in effect and a prediction of several inches of snow Tuesday evening, local and state agencies are urging residents to prepare for hazardous driving conditions and bitter cold temperatures for at least a few days.
According to the National Weather Service forecast, overnight low temperatures will be 16 degrees Tuesday, 7 degrees Wednesday, 4 degrees Thursday and 14 degrees Friday.
“While snowplow crews will respond in force, we’re concerned these low temperatures will render treatments far less effective, and some roads could remain snow-covered for several days,” Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray said in a press release.
Dozens of roads across the state remain flooded from heavy rain over the weekend, and this will impact snow removal.
In Christian County, flood water was still on portions of the following state roads, the Transportation Cabinet reported at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday:
- Kentucky 115 — open with high water between the 0.8-1.0 mile points
- Kentucky 117 — open with high water between the 7.0-11.5 mile points
- Kentucky 117 — blocked by high water at the 18.8 mile point
- Kentucky 345 — blocked with high water between the 0-4, 6-7 and 9.2-9.5 mile points
- Kentucky 1338 — blocked by high water at the Tradewater River
- Kentucky — 1453 open with high water between 0-2 mile points
“Flooded roads could also freeze and become snow-covered, creating an unexpected hazard,” an official said in the release. “Do not pass barricades or road closed signs, never drive through high water, pack an emergency car kit, and take it slow.”
Anyone needing a warm place on cold nights should go to the Hopkinsville Salvation Army’s Extreme Weather Event Shelter at 701 S. Clay St. The shelter is open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on nights when the temperate or windchill will be 25 degrees or lower.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet urged residents to stay off roads if they don’t have to travel. Officials provided these tips for dealing with the winter weather:
What to keep in an emergency car kit
- First aid kit
- Extra coat, gloves, and blankets or sleeping bag
- Non-perishable food and water
- Baby formula, diapers, wipes
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Portable phone chargers
- Pet food, water, leash, bowl
- Medications
- Ice scraper and jumper cables
- Shovel, and a bag of sand or litter
What to do if traffic signals are not working
- Flashing yellow, proceed with caution
- Flashing red, treat as a stop sign
- No signal lights, treat as a 4-way stop
What to do when a downed power line is on the roadway
- Never touch or drive over a fallen power line; report the issue to the power company
- If a power line has fallen on your vehicle, STAY INSIDE, do not exit, and call 911
- Assume all downed power lines are live and DO NOT attempt to move them
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.
