LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency for Kentucky after several inches of snow fell across the state Thursday.
Gov. Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency following heavy snowfall that started earlier today and is continuing this afternoon and evening across the commonwealth.Read more: https://t.co/lLtwoxSiHj pic.twitter.com/X7705F1ThM
— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) January 6, 2022
The governor said the weather was affecting travel on major interstates and roads across the state, causing power outages and damage to properties and infrastructure.
Earlier in the day, Beshear activated the Kentucky National Guard to all interstate closures, as well as search and rescue teams to check on stranded motorists.Â
Beshear also issued a word of warning to Kentuckians, urging them to avoid travel because of the road conditions and reports of multiple accidents, including a crash on the Western Kentucky Parkway involving roughly 20-30 cars.
I have deployed @kentuckyguard teams to assist @KYTC and @kystatepolice. We are using every resource available. Again, please stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.
— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) January 6, 2022
"We are urging Kentuckians to stay off the roads if possible," Beshear said in a news release. "The weather we are continuing to see across Kentucky is dangerous."
All state office buildings closed at noon Thursday as snow was expected to continue at a "moderate to heavy" rate throughout the afternoon. They will also be closed on Friday.
Crews with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet were pre-treating roads earlier in the week and are out in full force across the state as the snowfall begins to wind down.Â
IMAGES | First snow of 2022 blankets parts of Kentucky and southern Indiana
Email your snow pictures to webteam@wdrb.com. Please include where they photos were taken.
Roads are snow-covered and treacherous in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Jan. 6, 2022
- Grace Hayba
A salt truck near the Gene Snyder Freeway and Interstate 65. Jan. 6, 2022.
- Lexie Ratterman
Snow made the Western Kentucky and Bluegrass Parkways nearly impassable. Image courtesy the National Weather Service - Louisville on Twitter. Jan. 6, 2022.
Crews in Clarksville, Indiana were out early to brine streets. Jan. 6, 2022.
Crews in Clarksville, Indiana were out early to brine streets. Jan. 6, 2022.
Snow on the ground in downtown Louisville. Jan. 6, 2022Â
- Darby Beane
The WDRB crew in Elizabethtown, Kentucky had some fun in the snow. Jan. 6, 2022
- Grace Hayba
Brownsboro Road was so slippery during the snow that cars were sliding down the hill. Jan. 6, 2022
- Joel Schipper
A Jefferson County Public Schools bus was stuck on a very slippery Old Heady Road. Image courtesy of viewer Kara Mudd. Jan. 6, 2022.
Jefferson County Public Schools dismissed students early because of snow. Buses lined up at Central High School to transport students. Jan. 6, 2022.Â
- Lexie Ratterman
Jefferson County Public Schools dismissed students early because of snow. Buses lined up at Central High School to transport students. Jan. 6, 2022.Â
- Lexie Ratterman
Jefferson County Public Schools dismissed students early because of snow. Buses lined up at Central High School to transport students. Jan. 6, 2022.Â
- Lexie Ratterman
State road crews used brine on the Interstates before the snow began to fall. Image courtesy KYTC District 4 on Facebook. Jan. 5, 2022.Â
Snow on the ground at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Jan. 6, 2022.Â
- Amanda Manning
A heavy coating of snow on Burksville Street in Columbia, Kentucky. Image courtesy of viewer Heather Johnson. Jan. 6, 2022.Â
Seven inches of snow was measured by midday in Elizabethtown, Ky. Image courtesy of view Megan Horner. Jan 6, 2022.
Five inches of snow was measured by midday in Hodgenville, Ky. Image courtesy of Christina Rowland. Jan. 6, 2022.Â
The Greenbelt Highway in southern Jefferson County was snow-covered by 11 a.m. on Thursday. Image courtesy of Shari Judd. Jan. 6, 2022.Â
Snow falling near Frankfort. Image courtesy Kentucky State University on Twitter. Jan. 6, 2022.Â
For the first time in a while, there was enough snow for Teresa Sharp's grandson to go sledding. Jan. 6, 2022.
Jessica Beard shared a photo of her 22-month-old daughter enjoying snow for the first time. Jan. 6, 2022.Â
Snow in LaRue County, Ky. Image courtesy of Madison Howell. Jan. 6, 2022.Â
Snow in Marengo, Indiana. Image courtesy Amy Waterworth. Jan. 6, 2022.Â
Salt trucks on the Gene Snyder Freeway near Preston Highway. Jan. 6, 2022
- Lexie Ratterman
Snow in Shepherdsville, Ky. Image courtesy of Char Grimm-Akerley's ring doorbell camera. Jan. 6, 2022.Â
An aerial view of snow near Iroquois Park in south Louisville. Image courtesy Sam Louis. Jan. 6, 2022.
Brinks Truck sliding off into a ditch off of Wooldridge Ferry Road in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Image courtesy Robin Fentress. Jan. 6, 2022.
Eight inches of snow so far in Northern Grayson County, so Ashley Johnson and her family decided to gather some snow for snow cream! Jan. 6, 2022.
"So, if you are not an essential worker, please don't travel," Beshear said. "If you are ran essential worker and you have to travel, because some of the jobs simply cannot stop ... we're getting vaccines out to the rest of the world, for instance, through UPS ... Please drive slowly."
KYTC is reminding drivers to limit travel to only what is necessary, give plenty of room on the roads to snow plows and crews and make sure vehicles are winter ready — including an emergency kit.
Louisville Metro Police said as of 4 p.m., there had been 24 injury accidents and 120 non-injury accidents across the city.Â
Crews are out across the city but not in full force. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said Thursday afternoon that of the 450 people on the Metro Works snow team, 62 were out with COVID-19 or were quarantining. There are 111 primary routes that crews are working to clear.
Related Stories:
- Roughly 20-30 cars involved in chain-reaction crash on Western Kentucky Parkway
- Kentucky school districts may get 10 days per school for 'surgical' remote learning closures
- Louisville officials stress patience as crews combat snow, freezing temperatures
- Post Office reminds residents, businesses to clear snow-covered walkways
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