Snowstorm causes traffic woes, pushes Lexington into record books

The snow that fell Friday pushed Lexington’s January snowfall totals into the top 10 in the city’s history, and it’s still creating some traffic concerns Saturday morning.

The city of Lexington said crews were focused Saturday on clearing neighborhood streets that are normally treated last after a snowfall and on Saturday night would be spot treating ranked roads and responding to calls about slick spots.

The city said the packed snow from driving and low snowfall total had made plowing less effective. Nearly 1,000 tons of salt had been used by Saturday morning.

“Low temperatures are slowing the melting properties of salt and additives,” the city said in a late morning news release. “This will improve early this afternoon with sunlight and rising temperatures. Sunday’s warmer temperatures and the previously spread salt will help with treatment.”

Friday’s 3.1-inch snowfall pushed Lexington’s total to 17.1 inches so far this month, making this one of the snowiest months the city has seen.

This January is now the seventh-snowiest January since records have been kept for Lexington, WKYT-TV Chief Meteorologist Chris Bailey said in a tweet. It’s the 12th-snowiest month in the city’s history.

National Weather Service data indicates that 4.7 inches is “normal” for January, though the total amount of snow the city gets each winter varies considerably from year to year.

Lexington police responded to 19 non-injury collisions, two crashes with injuries and 10 motorist assists between midnight and 10 a.m. Saturday, said Lexington police Lt. Dan Truex. Most of those were after 5 a.m. Saturday morning.

In the early evening hours Friday, there were dozens of calls about non-injury collisions in Lexington.

In Lexington and throughout the region, crews worked overnight to clear roads, and city officials urged drivers to be cautious, since roads could still be slick.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s District 7, which covers Central Kentucky, advised people not to get out Saturday morning if they didn’t have to.

Crews were continuing to clear roads throughout the region Saturday.

Pavement temperatures late Friday night were 25 degrees with air temperatures falling fast, and roads were covered in most areas, the Transportation Cabinet said in a news release.

Laurel County Sheriff John Root said just after midnight that all roads were snow and ice-covered, and he said drivers should travel with “extreme caution.”

The National Weather Service said highs Saturday would rise only into the upper 20s, or low 30s. Sunday is expected to be a little warmer, and no more snow is expected this weekend.