LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky is under a state of emergency, as a winter storm brings snow and bitter cold to the state.

Gov. Andy Beshear signed the state of emergency on Wednesday, as Kentucky gears up for an arctic blast expected to move in Thursday night. The forecast calls for snow, dropping temperatures and wind gusts between 40 and 50 miles per hour on Friday. Wind chills are expected to be between 10 and 25 below zero on Friday into Saturday. A warm up isn't expected until Monday or Tuesday.

Rain is predicted to start Thursday and change into snow as temperatures drop very quickly. Beshear said the snow totals vary, but he stresses preparedness in the days leading into the Christmas holiday.

Beshear said declaring a state of emergency allows the state to have resources needed, available, and ready to go.

The front is expected to affect travel, and other impacts may include broken waterlines, power outages and damage to public infrastructure and private properties.

The Kentucky National Guard as well as the Kentucky Emergency Operations Center are ready, and the Guard is prepositioning assets to assist in rescues.

Kentucky National Guard Major General Hal Lamberton said by 10 a.m. Thursday readiness teams will be in place in five key counties including Jefferson, Madison, Muhlenburg, Hardin, McCracken. Each team has five members that will include a military tow truck or wrecker, a Humvee or a vehicle with a high axle that can transport people or other items across road hazards.

The Guard will also have its Joint Operations Center open on Thursday to coordinate with the state. It will stay open as long as necessary.

“The Joint Service Operations team in London will be on standby with an aircraft with hoists capabilities and the Special Tactics Squadron in Louisville will be on standby to provide emergency response capabilities,” Lamberton said.

Bitter cold and snow is expected Thursday night.

"After midday Thursday, do not travel unless you have to. Unless you are an essential employee, traveling will be very difficult on Friday and certainly late Thursday night as well. One of our biggest concerns is a 'flash freeze.' That's when temperatures drop very, very, very quickly and any rain or snow that is there turns to ice. And with our temperatures, it will be very difficult to thaw that ice," Beshear said.

Beshear said the weather will begin to change by 5 p.m. (eastern) in the western part of the state including Paducah and Hopkinsville. By 7 p.m., the system will move into the central part of the state including Louisville and Lexington.

He said windchills will be cold enough to present a risk of frostbite. Hypothermia is also a concern for anyone caught without a heated shelter for a prolonged period of time.

Beshear said his administration has requested that every county designate at least one warming center. All of Kentucky's State Parks will also be prepared to help those without power or heat. Each park will serve as a backup warming center. For updates, go to Parks.Ky.Gov. 

Officials will also be monitoring the temporary trailer housing that hundreds of eastern Kentucky families are living in after summer flooding in the region. Kentucky Emergency Management Director Jeremy Slinker said the trailers have been switched to larger capacity propane tanks and officials will be making periodic checks at the trailer sites.

Slinker also warned about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. 

“In the event of a power outage, never use a generator indoors,” Director Slinker said. “Place the generator a safe distance from the home – at least 10 to 15 feet. Please use carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors. With these sub-zero temperatures, we also need people to dress in layers, as hypothermia is a real threat. And please take time to protect pets and livestock, which are also at threat.”

Weather preparedness information and tips are provided on the Kentucky Emergency Management website.

Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray said that a fleet of 1,365 state-owned and contracted plow trucks are available to be deployed across Kentucky. The cabinet has stockpiled over 300,000 tons of salt, nearly one million gallons of brine for anti-icing efforts and more than one million gallons of calcium chloride, an additive to salt for deicing.

The challenge is that with rain falling before the snow and falling temperatures, crews can't pre-treat the roads because it would wash away. 

“With high winds, downed trees are possible, so they’re prepared to help clear roads of debris. Safe roads take everyone’s cooperation, so I urge Kentuckians to stay weather alert by monitoring weather forecasts, checking traffic on a navigational app like WAZE or goky.ky.gov, altering travel plans to avoid driving when conditions are at their worst and giving yourself plenty of time to get to your destination,” Gray said 

Visit snowky.ky.gov for snow and ice resources, like priority route maps, tips and highway district updates. 

Gray said it's not all about snow totals. "This winter storm, this arctic front, by all indications presents significant potential hazards. Don't get complacent when you hear that the expected snowfall might be fairly light. And why is that? Well, the combination of light, powdery snow and wind gusts of up to 40 and 50 miles-an-hour can quickly create white-out conditions on the highway."

"You can be driving along and suddenly all traces of the roadway disappear, so that means being alert at all times. Buckle-up, as we say in transportation, and phone down. Reduce your speed and give yourself plenty of time to reach that destination, if you have to go," said Gray. 

Beshear suggested every Kentuckian have a plan in place.

  • Know where your warming center is located
  • Have gas in the car
  • Have a backup heat source in place
  • Make a vehicle kit that includes blankets, ice scrapers, jumper cables, snacks and a first aid kid
  • Winterize your vehicle by checking the battery, brakes and tire pressure

Kentucky State Police Commissioner Col. Phillip Burnett Jr. asked people to stay home during the winter storm and say off the roads. 

"We ask citizens, please refrain from dialing 911 to ask for weather or roadway conditions. We need to ensure that these lines stay open for emergency, potential life-saving calls that someone may request from one of our 911 centers for assistance," Burnett said.  

Beshear also signed an executive order to protect Kentuckians from price gouging during the weather emergency so people can't be charged too much for things like shovels, gasoline and household items. If someone suspects price gouging, they should contact the Kentucky Attorney General's office.

Winter weather resources: 

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