LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A wintry mix of freezing rain and snow overnight left streets and vehicles in Kentucky and Indiana covered with snow and ice early Thursday.
As sleet and freezing rain began falling late Wednesday afternoon, extra crews were out in force in Kentuckiana to treat the roads. In Louisville about 200 crew members worked overnight to treat more than 100 roadways throughout the city. In Crescent Hill, about a half-inch of freezing rain fell, and Bardstown had about three-tenths to fourth-tenths of an inch.
The winter storm dumped significant amounts of freezing rain, sleet, snow and ice to Kentucky and Indiana. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced a state of emergency Thursday morning, a move that lets agencies better coordinate their responses.
No storm-related deaths or injuries had been reported as of around 10:30 EST Thursday morning. The Kentucky National Guard has been put on alert but not activated, Michael Dossett, the state's emergency management director, told reporters at a press conference.
About 7,500 homes and businesses in Kentucky were without power as of mid-morning, with a larger share of outages in the central and eastern parts of the state. In eight counties in northeastern Kentucky, more than 20 percent of customers were waiting for power to be restored.
Dossett said winds expected to gust up to 25 miles per hour later Thursday could cause more downed tree limbs and power lines, worsening the outages in some areas.
About 2,000 state workers and contractors are clearing roads, Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray said, but he added that routes in general are hazardous.
In Christian County in southern Kentucky, I-24 West was closed Thursday morning and numerous other roads have been blocked, Gray said. He urged people who need to travel to "please, please be cautious."
IMAGES | Snow, Sleet and Freezing Rain Leave Behind Winter Wonderland in Kentuckiana
A yellow Cardinal perches near a bird feeder in Radcliff, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after an ice storm moved through the area.
A glass of bourbon is adorned with icicles on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through Kentuckiana.
Ice coats the rim and backboard of a basketball goal in Lebanon, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
Ice coats a bird feeder in a yard outside a home in Lebanon, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
Icicles hang from a mail box in Vine Grove, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after freezing rain fell overnight.
Icicles coat a bush in Bardstown, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area overnight.
Ice coats a tree near a lamp in the Pleasure Ridge Park neighborhood in the early morning hours of Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area overnight.
Freezing rain weighed down a tree in Okolona on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through Louisville, Ky., overnight.
Ice and snow covered streets outside the WDRB Media studios in downtown Louisville, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
A wintry scene outside a home on Shaffer Lane in Fern Creek, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
A school bus coated with ice in Meade County, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
A buildup of ice coats a tree in a yard outside a home about five miles east of Elizabethtown and Boston, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
Ice on a tree in a snow-covered yard in Pleasureville, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
Ice coats the branches of a tree in Fern Creek, Ky., in the early morning hours of Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area overnight.
Ice coats the trees outside a home in Fern Creek, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a ice storm moved through the area.
A frozen scene outside a deck in Taylorsville, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area overnight.
Ice coats a pine tree near the Muhammad Ali Louisville International Airport on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area overnight.
Pictured: icicles hang from a statue in downtown Louisville, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021.
Pictured: a tree in St. Matthews fell on a pickup truck during a winter storm on Feb. 10, 2021.
Pictured: ice coats a parking meter in downtown Louisville, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021.
Snow on top of ice on 4th Street in downtown Louisville, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021.
Aftermath of an ice storm in Clarkson, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
Icicles hang from a bird feeder on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through Kentuckiana overnight.
Pictured: ice coats a Dogwood tree on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
Ice coats the branches of a tree on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through Kentuckiana.
Pictured: ice from freezing rain that fell in Highview, Kentucky.
A tree coated with ice in Fairdale, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
A snow and ice-covered road in Glendale, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021.
Snow and ice cover a vehicle in Elizabethtown, Ky., on the morning of Feb. 11, 2021.
A solid sheet of ice coats this vehicle in Marysville, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021.
Snow and ice cover streets in downtown Louisville, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021.
Snow and ice cover the street in Bardstown, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021.
Icicles coat bushes outside a business in Bardstown, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021.
An icy scene in Boston, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021.
Ice and snow in a Bullitt County yard on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
Ice on a tree in Bullitt County, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area overnight.
A tree covered in icicles outside a home in Mount Washington, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021.
A tree branch in Bardstown, Ky., snapped under the weight of ice during a winter storm overnight and fell on a car parked in the driveway.
Tree branches bend under the weight of ice in Bardstown, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021.
Pictured: a parked car comes to the rest after sliding down a driveway covered with ice and snow after a winter storm moved through Kentuckiana.
Ice covers the branches of a tree in a yard Caneyville, Ky., in the early morning hours of Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
Ice coats a tree limb in the Belknap neighborhood on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area overnight.
Freezing rain left behind a frozen scene in the Belknap neighborhood in Louisville, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area overnight.
Ice coats a vehicle in Ekron, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021.
A ruler shows how much ice coated a tree limb in Elizabethtown, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
Ice and snow covered roads on Payne Drive in Louisville, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm overnight.
A tree covered with ice on South Hurstbourne on in the early morning hours of Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area overnight.
Ice on trees in Springfield, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
Ice on a tree on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through Kentuckiana.
Ice coats tree limbs outside the WDRB Media Studios in the early morning hours of Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
Ice on a WDRB news vehicle in downtown Louisville, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
A frozen scene from the WDRB camera on the Belvedere in downtown Louisville, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area.
Freezing rain coats a in the Shawnee neighborhood in Louisville, Ky.
A frosty scene in Bardstown, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the region overnight.
Ice on a tree in Bardstown, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021.
Ice on a tree in Bardstown, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021.
A bird feeder with icicles hanging from it on Feb. 11, 2021.
Ice and snow covered road in downtown Louisville, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the region.
Ice on tree branches in Shelby County, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021.
Icicles dangle from an open porch on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through Kentuckiana.
Icicles on a Jeep in Shelby County, Ky., on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through the area overnight.
Ice on trees on Feb. 11, 2021, after a winter storm moved through Kentuckiana.
A frozen swing at Waterfront Park on Feb. 11, 2021.
A view of Waterfront Park covered in snow and ice on Feb. 11, 2021.
Ice and snow cover steps near the Ohio River at Waterfront Park on Feb. 11, 2021.
Ice and snow cover East Washington Street in Butchertown on Feb. 11, 2021.
Ice and snow cover Cabel Street in Butchertown on Feb. 11, 2021.
Ice and snow cover Adams Street in Butchertown on Feb. 11, 2021.
Ice covers the leaves of an evergreen tree at Waterfront Park on Feb. 11, 2021.
Ice and snow cover Waterfront Park on Feb. 11, 2021.
Ice and snow cover the Big Four Bridge on Feb. 11, 2021.
Although the freezing rain and snow tapered off in most of Kentuckiana by 5 a.m. Thursday the threat of power outages will continue throughout the day, with ice still coating many power lines that could still snap or be brought down by higher winds.
Officials warn residents who do lose power to be careful when using alternate power sources, and keep the following guidelines in mind:
- Alternate heat sources can pose a risk of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning if used incorrectly. Generators, camp stoves or charcoal grills should always be used outdoors and placed at least 20 feet away from windows.
- Never use a gas stovetop or oven to heat our home. For more information, CLICK HERE.
- Upon the event of a downed power line or power outage, contact your local utility company, which should be able to provide you with information on the expected duration of your outage. Stay away from downed power lines or broken utility lines.
Kentucky residents are encouraged to have winter weather emergency car and home kits at the ready. For information on what kinds of items to include in these kits, CLICK HERE.
In southern Indiana, roads were covered and slick early Thursday. Officials with the Indiana Department of Transportation told WDRB News about 100 trucks were out overnight treating and clearing roads. Crews were expected to continue the treatments through at least Thursday afternoon.
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