The first winter storm of 2025 blasted through the commonwealth Sunday, bringing four to six inches of snow to different parts of eastern and central Kentucky. Another one to three more inches of snow are anticipated for Morehead and surrounding areas, followed by sub-freezing temperatures and extreme wind chill.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear held a winter weather update early Monday, where he said all people should stay home and off the roads unless there’s an emergency.
“Remember, this is a significant snow and ice event, so the roadways are still dangerous. You might be able to see the pavement, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not slick. A half an inch of ice is very hard to treat, especially when it coats everything,” said Beshear.
According to Rowan County Emergency Management, the county only received one fourth of an inch of ice overnight, compared to much larger amounts in surrounding counties. Local officials are still asking all motorists to stay off the roads, including ATVs, so crews can clear as much snow and ice as possible.
As of the morning of January 6, thousands of people across the state are without power. That number is still lower in Rowan County, but downed trees and icy conditions have left numerous residents in counties like Clark, Menifee, and Magoffin without power, according to Poweroutage.us.
Kentucky Emergency Management Director Eric Gibson said with possible sub-zero wind chill on the way, Kentuckians should stay prepared and have a plan in case they lose power for multiple days.
“Those kind of things, they’re going to create extreme risk to those without power, especially if they don’t have that alternative heating source. They need those medical devices where they need that power to run,” said Gibson. “So we’re trying to prepare now as we’ve gone through the icing event and we kind of see where those impacted areas are. We’re transitioning now to prepare for this long term event.”
In Rowan County, the winter storm warning will remain in effect until January 7 at 7 a.m. MSU’s offices are also closed in-person January 7, but core services like billing and financial aid can be reached by phone or email.
For the latest weather warnings, advisories, and watches, stay tuned to 90.3, WMKY.