LOUSIVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Many people across Kentucky and Indiana are bracing for a winter storm expected to impact travel and bring possible power outages.
On Thursday, a winter storm watch was issued and will be in effect from late Saturday night through Monday afternoon for all of southern Indiana as well as the northern half of central Kentucky.
Louisville Metro Public Works
Louisville Metro Public Works started to prepare for this weather event Tuesday. That includes ensuring its 200 pieces of equipment are in working order as well as attaching plows to its utility and dump trucks and having crews on standby.
The snow team works around the clock for as long as necessary to address Louisville's roads.
"Everybody on the snow team understands that it's a commitment and they're ready to come in on 12-hour cycles," said Salvador Melendez, public information officer for Louisville Metro Public Works.
Public Works starts every season with 38,000 tons of salt. There is 17,000 tons stored above ground in storage domes, while the rest is stored at the Louisville Mega Caverns.
"There's no shortage of that," Melendez said.
The Public Works snow team is responsible for clearing 110 snow routes, which totals more than 2,700 two-lane miles of roadways.
Public Works can pre-treat the roads with brine but won't do so if rain is expected beforehand. If the temperature stays above 25 degrees, Public Works will use salt to deal with snow or ice. If temperatures are below 25 degrees, Public Works will use a combination of salt and calcium chloride.
"It would just wash off, so we would not apply any brine," Melendez said. "We just go straight to that salt or salt and calcium chloride treatment if necessary."
During live weather event you can follow the snow team's progress on treating and plowing roads on the Public Works snow map, click here.
Snow crews are getting ready to head out.
Indiana Department of Transportation
The Indiana Department of Transportation is also monitoring the upcoming weather. Sidney Nierman, a spokesperson for INDOT's southeast district, said it's looking to pre-treat roads this weekend and making sure crews are prepared to hit the roads.
"We want to make sure that people are taking it slow (and) really, really paying attention to the road," Nierman said.
INDOT's southeast district will have 164 trucks available to help treat the road, stretching south to north from the Kentucky border to Bloomington and Columbus, and west to east Washington and Harrison Counties to the Ohio border.
Nierman said motorists can stay up to date on its social media, like Facebook, to see what's in the process of being cleared and what to prepare for if heading out on the roads.
For an interactive map, drivers can also visit 511in.org.
Dangers of Hypothermia
Doctors say they're expecting to see an increase in cold-related health issues like frostbite and hypothermia.
Experts at UofL Health Hospital in downtown Louisville said our bodies normally stay around 98.6 degrees, but doctors say if your body temperature drops to 95 degrees in the cold weather, it's a problem.
It is best to keep your head, hands, and feet warm and avoiding wet clothes. Elderly people and children have the highest risk for getting hypothermia. Signs include numbness, tingling in fingers and toes, and color changes.
Doctors recommend dressing kids in extra layers of clothing, especially if they're outside waiting for the bus early next week.
Preparing Your Car
While it's recommended to avoid driving during winter weather storms, AAA suggests taking a look at your car before hitting the road during the winter season.
Part of AAA's Winter Care Checklist includes:
- Test battery and charging system
- Check tire tread
- Ensure transmission, brake and power steering fluids are at or above minimum safe levels
- Check wiper blades
- Create emergency road kit
- First-aid kit
- Non-perishable items
- Blankets
- Extra clothes
- Flashlight
- Ice scraper with brush
- Jumper cables
Louisville Public Works has been gearing up for this winter storm since Tuesday.
What to Know Before Going to the Grocery Store for Winter Storm Preparedness
As a winter storm approaches, it’s essential to ensure you're stocked up on supplies to keep you and your family safe and comfortable. Here’s what to know before heading to your local grocery store:
- Prioritize Non-Perishable Foods: Stock up on items that don’t require refrigeration or cooking. These include canned goods, pasta, protein bars, trail mix, and dry snacks that are easy to prepare and store.
- Water and Hydration: Make sure you have plenty of water or sports drinks with electrolytes. Power outages can disrupt water supply, so it’s better to have extra.
- Medical and Personal Care: Don’t forget your essential medications, as well as personal hygiene products. If you have young children, remember to grab extra diapers and baby formula.
- Pet Supplies: Pet parents should stock up on pet food to ensure your furry friends are well cared for during a storm.
- Toilet Paper: This often forgotten item is crucial, so make sure to grab an extra pack while you're at the store.
- Avoid Last-Minute Rush: As the storm nears, grocery stores may become crowded. Plan your trip early to avoid the rush.
The stores are crowded.
Louisville Warming Centers
The Homeless Services Division has come up with a plan to care for the houseless population with the pending winter weather.
There will be two day-warming centers available starting Sunday, Jan. 5.
- Starting on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025
- Hope International AOH Church of God
- 2330 Algonquin Pkwy.
- Open Sunday 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
- Open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- (502) 830-4710
- Starting on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025
- Exodus Family Ministries
- 4205 Cane Run Rd.
- Open Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- (502) 614-8544
- (502) 823-8870
There will also be warming space at Neighborhood Places during normal business hours.
On Sunday, Jan. 5, the following Louisville Free Public Library locations will be open from 1-5 p.m.:
- Main, 301 York Street
- Northeast Regional, 15 Bellevoir Circle
- South Central Regional, 7300 Jefferson Boulevard
- Southwest Regional, 9725 Dixie Highway
- Bon Air, 2816 Del Rio Place
- Iroquois, 601 West Woodlawn Avenue
- St. Matthews, 3940 Grandview Avenue
- Shawnee, 3912 West Broadway
The Main Library and regional library locations will reopen Monday at 9 a.m. All other library locations will open at 10 a.m. Monday.
Two Louisville shelters are also participating in Operation White Flag, which goes into effect when it's below 35 degrees.
White Flag is available for single men and women at Salvation Army location at 911 S. Brook St. Check-in begins at 6 p.m. and continues until 10 p.m. depending on availability. Reservations can be made by calling (502) 637-2337 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. They are not required but will guarantee a bed. Capacity is 30 beds for men and 10 beds for women. Day shelter is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Wayside Christian Mission is welcoming men, women and families. Extra bunk beds have been put on the family floor and mats will be put down in the dining hall after dinner is over for the men who come in. Wayside capacity is around 200, but organizers say they try not to turn people away.
"Louisville is such a caring community," Nina Moseley, Wayside Christian Mission Chief Operating Officer said. "I don't think anyone wants to see another human being freeze to death and people will do whatever is necessary to prevent that, so we appreciate all the partners, we appreciate the collaboration. We're thankful for the city for supporting these efforts, so it takes a village and it takes everyone looking out for our neighbor."
When a white flag is out, it means the temperature is below 35 degrees and anyone can stay in the shelter.
Potential for Power Outages
Power companies said they are preparing for potential outages caused by ice.
"The biggest thing that normally happens is the ice gets on limbs and so forth, and that can bring down our lines, and obviously we have no control over that, so we're prepared," said Chris Whelan, Vice President of Communications for LG&E.
Whelan said LG&E has 500 personnel ready to respond this weekend; that includes linemen, tree trimmers, supervisors, and employees working in the plants and substations.
As of Friday, LG&E did not request out of state assistance, but said it will do so if the forecast calls for it.
Whelan said cold temperatures would not prevent crews from working, but snow and ice may make it more difficult to get around.
"We can continue to work through the cold and and even the wind, and as you know, they can even work through the night. However, you know it could slow things down. For example, if we were to have outages in areas that are hard to access, then that snow and ice and so forth make it a little more difficult to get to those areas," Whelan said.
LG&E said it is important for customers to be prepared in advance for outages.
A few tips LG&E recommends is to charge devices and backup batteries. Also have a backup plans on how to store medication that needs to be refrigerated or medical devices that require electricity.
Duke Energy also services part of Kentucky and most of Indiana and said it also has crews on standby.
“We are preparing to ensure we can restore electricity to any affected customers as soon as possible," said Clint Carnahan, Duke Energy general manager of Emergency Preparedness.
If a power line falls on a car you are inside, Duke recommends to stay in the car. If you must get out of the car in the event of another emergency, like a fire, Duke said to jump clear of the car, land on both feet, and make sure not part of your body touches the car when your feet touch the ground.
Both companies remind customers to avoid down power lines in case it is still energized, and to report power outages.
If you use a generator in the event of a power outage, operate the generator outside and away from your home. A generator should not run inside a building or garage.
To access LG&E's power outage map, click here.
To access Duke Energy's power outage map, click here.
Preparing Your Home
Other than stocking up on salt and breaking out the shovel, Brownsboro Hardware and Paint recommends a few extra items to help winterize your home before cold temperatures.
Some of those items include:
- Weather stripping to seal doors or windows and block out cold air
- Heat tape to cover exposed copper pipes
- Outdoor faucet cover
- Space heater
- Furnace filters
"It’s cheap insurance in my opinion," said owner Doug Carroll. "With the cold weather your pipes can freeze and when they thaw they can burst and flood. That can mean tons of repairs, plumbing repairs, it can become very expensive."
It's important to be prepared.
TARC winter weather detours
Buses are now operating on winter weather detours. The decision to activate winter weather detours or reduce service could be made any time.
Full list:
- Route #15 Market Street Eastbound via VA Hospital
- Missed stops: All stops between Brownsboro Rd @ Mt. Holly Ave to Country Club Rd @ River Bend Dr
- Next Nearest stop: Brownsboro Rd @ Hite Ave
- Route #15 Market Street Westbound via VA Hospital
- Missed stops: All stops between Country Club Rd @ River Bend Dr to Brownsboro Rd @ Mt. Holly Ave
- Next Nearest stop: Ewing Ave @ Brownsboro Rd
- Route #21 Chestnut Street Eastbound
- Missed stops: All stops between Dundee Rd @Fleming Rd to Emerson Ave @ Eleanor Ave
- Next Nearest stop: Bardstown Rd @ Winston Ave
- Route #21 Chestnut Street Westbound
- Missed stops: All stops between Emerson Ave @Eleanor Ave to Dundee Rd @Trevilian Way
- Next Nearest stop: Trevilian Way @Blvd Napoleon
- Route #25 Oak-Westport Crosstown Eastbound
- Missed stops: From Bardstown Road to Everett Avenue
- Next Stop: Bardstown Road and Grinstead Drive.
- Route #27 Hill Street Eastbound/Westbound
- Missed stops: All stops between Audubon Plaza to Illinois @Poplar Level Rd
- Next Nearest stop: Poplar Level Rd @Hess Ln
- Route #28 Preston Highway Southbound Edgewood via Worldport
- Missed stops: There are no missed stops
- Next Nearest stop: Edgewood Loop, UPS Worldport
- Route #31 Shelbyville Road Eastbound via Middletown Center to Eastpointe
- Missed stops: All stops in Berrytown along Heafer Rd
- Next Nearest stop: Lagrange Rd @English Station Rd
- Route #31 Shelbyville Road Westbound from Eastpoint via Middletown Center
- Missed stops: All stops along Heafer Rd in Berrytown
- Next Nearest stop: English Station Rd @Old Henry Rd
- Route #43 Portland Poplar Level Southbound
- Missed stops: All stops on Vaughn Mill loop to Outer Loop Plaza
- Next Nearest stop: Outer Loop Plaza and Outer Loop @ Vaughn Mill Rd.
- Routes #93 UPS Shuttle-UofL-JCTC, and #99 UPS Shuttle West Louisville to Worldport Center
- Missed stops: There are no missed stops
- Next Nearest stop: Edgewood Loop, UPS Worldport
Snow sledding in Louisville
Snow means lots of people are ready to get out the sleds. Here's the latest from Olmsted Parks.
SNOW DAY! Here's a reminder of the sledding rules. Please note that the only Olmsted Parks with designated sledding hills are Tyler and Cherokee Parks.
❄️Hills for sledding designated by Louisville Parks and Recreation:
- Cherokee Park (Baringer Hill, intersection of Alexander Road and Scenic Loop)
- Joe Creason Park (Trevilian Way, across from Louisville Zoo).
- George Rogers Clark Park (1024 Thruston Avenue, behind playground, near McKinley Avenue)
- McNeely Lake Park (6900 Cooper Chapel Road, near Korean War Memorial)
- Tyler Park (1501 Castlewood Avenue, on Tyler Park Drive side of park)
- Charlie Vettiner Park (5550 Charlie Vettiner Park Road, near Easum Road entrance)
⛄️SLEDDING RULES
Sledding hills will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. – as long as there is adequate snow to protect slopes; all sledding hills will close at 11 p.m.
- Park vehicles only in regular parking areas to protect your car from damage.
- No vehicles are permitted off the pavement in any park.
- No alcoholic beverages are permitted at any time.
Those who use the designated hills are doing so at their own risk. Bonfires will not be permitted at Metro Parks’ sites, and sledders are urged to carry a cell phone in the event of an emergency.
Please pick up your trash or use the designated trash bins for waste removal — or take trash with you as you leave.
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