Snowfall has ended in the region, but bitter cold has moved in and many roadways remain covered this morning with some combination of snow and black ice.
Public schools are closed to in-person instruction in Christian, Todd, Trigg, Montgomery and every other area county Friday, in addition to UHA, Heritage Christian Academy, Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School and Fort Campbell schools. Murray State University, Austin Peay State University and Hopkinsville Community College are also closed, with a complete list of closures posted on our website.
Dispatchers in Christian, Todd and Trigg counties reported no major issues overnight, though there were a few non-injury accidents on the Pennyrile Parkway and I-24. Most back roads and side streets are still snow-covered and even the major highways still have snow and black ice on them in some places.
A Kentucky State trooper just before 5:30 a.m. reported the Western Kentucky Parkway to be snow-covered in places, and back roads to be slick and hazardous in the Post 2 Madisonville area.
City, county and state road crews have been hard at work since the storm that brought about five inches of snow to the area began, but road salt becomes less effective when the temperature falls below about 17 degrees.
Christian County Emergency Management Director Randy Graham says the morning commute will likely remain difficult and it’s a good idea to stay at home until road crews are able to make some more progress.
Governor Andy Beshear on Thursday declared a state of emergency across the commonwealth due to the heavy snow event and called upon the Kentucky National Guard to assist the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and State Police. He too is asking folks to avoid traveling when possible.
While a high in the lower to mid-20’s Friday won’t help much with melting, Saturday’s high in the mid-40’s combined with rain Saturday night should have most of the snow out of here by Sunday.