Sleet and ice on Thursday could make roads hazardous

The National Weather Service issued an ice storm warning and said residents should prepare for power outages and significant tree damage.

The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning for Christian, Todd and Trigg counties from 6 p.m. Wednesday through 6 a.m. Friday.

The forecast from the NWS office at Paducah says “significant icing” is expected.

Residents should prepare for power outages and tree damage because of the ice. Travel could become impossible.

The region will see rain during much of the day and night Wednesday, and winds will range from 10 to 34 mph

Conditions will worsen Thursday, when temperature hover around freezing. The region will see freezing rain beginning in the morning. Temperatures will dip to the mid-20s. 

Ice accumulation of 0.5 to 0.7 of an inch is possible during the day Thursday, according to the forecast. Then in the evening, snow, freezing rain and sleet is likely, and the overnight low will dip to the low 20s. 

Friday morning will be frigid with the wind chill temperature in the single digits.

The weekend will be cold and mostly sunny, but there’s no precipitation in the forecast Saturday and Sunday.

(This story was updated with new information about an ice storm warning.)

Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.