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KYTC District 9 crews mobilizing overnight for snow duty in northeast Kentucky

Kentucky Department of Highways District 9

Kentucky Department of Highways District 9 crews will mobilize snow plows and salt trucks overnight to fight snow expected on Saturday.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for northeast Kentucky from 1 a.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday. Currently, forecasts call for snow beginning about 4 a.m. Saturday, with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation expected in northern parts of the region and lesser accumulations to the south and eastward along the I-64 corridor.

Snowfighters in Bath, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Nicholas and Rowan counties have spent the last two days pre-treating highways and prepping plow trucks, and will report at 3 a.m. Saturday to respond to snow showers as needed. Crews will remain on duty throughout the day.

With overnight lows from 26 to 29 degrees, below-freezing pavement temperatures, and daytime freezing rain predicted, motorists should prepare for slick travel – slow down, buckle up, leave a “space cushion” between vehicles for safe maneuverability, and remember that bridges and overpasses can freeze before roadways.

In addition, keep in mind that scattered snow showers often create wide-ranging conditions – a clear highway might suddenly turn snowy and slick around the next curve or in dips and valleys. Light snow can also make roads difficult to treat as salt bounces off pavement or there's not enough precipitation for salt to mix with and melt snow properly.

During winter storm operations, District 9 crews work 12-hour shifts using thousands of tons of salt and more than 75 snow plows and other equipment to keep 2,000 miles of northeast Kentucky state highways passable.

You can learn more about Kentucky Transportation Cabinet snow removal efforts, and view snow removal priority routes, online at http://SnowKY.ky.gov

(provided by Kentucky Department of Highways District 9)

Paul Hitchcock earned his Masters in Communications from Morehead State University and Bachelors in Radio-TV/Psychology from Georgetown College. A veteran broadcaster for more than 40 years and an avid fan of blues, jazz and American roots music. Hitchcock has been with WMKY since 1986 and was named General Manager in 2003. He currently hosts "Muddy Bottom Blues" (Fri., 8pm-9pm), "Nothin' But The Blues" (Sat., 8pm-12am), "Sunday Night Jazz Showcase" and "Live From The Jazz Lounge" (Sun., 8pm-9pm) and "The Golden Age of Radio" (Sun., 2pm-3pm). He also serves as producer for "A Time For Tales" and "The Reader's Notebook."
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