With the possibility of inclement weather on the horizon, Lexington is prepared for the forecasted wintry mix starting on Friday.
The National Weather Service advises that a storm system could bring snow and rain late tonight and into Saturday morning. Temperatures could be low enough for snow to accumulate. The ground temperatures are expected to be at or above freezing. Slush may form in areas where snowfall occurs.
In anticipation of this weather system, crews from the divisions of Water Quality and Streets & Roads are pretreating priority areas, with a combination of salt brine and Beet Heet.
Brine is effective as a pretreatment and can be applied up to 72 hours in advance.
Slushy snow or shaded roads can still make driving conditions difficult, so caution is advised even if there is little accumulation.
Snow and ice removal in Fayette County is a joint effort between the City of Lexington and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The City divisions of Streets & Roads and Water Quality are responsible for snow and ice removal for approximately 1,400 lane miles of city and county roads. The state is responsible for plowing more than 800 lane miles of federal, state and county roads.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) advises motorists that the forecast is being monitored closely by the District 7 Office. District 7 snow and ice personnel are on standby and will report for duty as necessary to patrol and treat roadways. Motorists are advised to be on alert for possible hazardous driving conditions.
How to stay informed during the winter season
Website: Get the most up-to-date information about the measures the City is taking to ensure the wellness and safety of our residents at lexingtonky.gov/snowupdates. You can also view the snow and ice control plan with street and sidewalk rankings.
Social media: Get information on accidents, lane blockages, snow-and-ice trouble spots and road closures through the City’s Twitter accounts at @lexwrecks and @lexkypolice. General information, including, emergency and time-sensitive information, is available on the City’s Facebook account.
Traffic cameras: Traffic at major intersections can be viewed in real time through the city’s traffic cameras at lexingtonky.gov/traffic.
