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More sunlight Wednesday means more improvement for snowy roads

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A break from precipitation Tuesday and Wednesday has led to improvement in road conditions in the area and will allow for more efforts from road crews.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four says areas that received less snow in the 11-county district are generally more clear while interstate and parkway routes are mostly clear. Lower volume secondary routes remain mostly covered, but with clear skies in the forecast Wednesday crews will focus on those secondary routes to maximize the effectiveness of the increased sunshine.

KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie says the response of road crews to winter weather varies from storm to storm.

“A lot of variables in play,” Jessie said. “Certainly the temperature, the amount of precipitation we get, what kind of snow is it? Is it a dry, fine snow kind of like we had this time or is it a wet, packed snow? Those things all go into decisions of how we approach before the storm, during the storm, and after the snow storm. The response is not just to go out and throw salt or calcium down and go plow. It really is about timing, about when you do each of those operations, and how you do them with respect to all of the variables I just mentioned.”

The KYTC says drivers should still anticipate changing pavement conditions over short distances as snow and ice melt will vary based on the amount of sunlight a road gets, and icy spots from snow melt runoff are still likely especially on bridges and underpasses. Remember to give yourself extra time and begin breaking at earlier distances.

Visit snowky.ky.gov for links to road conditions, driving tips, and other winter weather information.

Highway crews continuing to work on snow and ice removal in face of frigid temperatures

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Highway crews continue to address roadway conditions after another round of snowfall and below-freezing temperatures Monday.

Kentucky Transportation District Four says many routes in the district showed improvement with treatment and sunlight, but the loss of sunlight and another round of frigid temperatures means packing and refreezing of covered roadways.

KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie says crews try to stay ahead of conditions with treatment, but conditions sometimes take options away from them.

“It’s not the biggest snowfall we’ve ever had, but it’s cold,” Jessie said. “It’s really, really cold, and that puts a whole new element to everything when it comes to snow fighting because salt doesn’t work. Calcium does work, but it’s something that we just can’t put down everywhere so you use it in the places you have to use it and that kind of thing.”

The lighter accumulation in most parts of the district also means that plowing the roads is not an effective option.

“You see some snow where you are maybe, but that may not be enough to really plow,” Jessie said. “If it’s just a big glaze on top of the roads the plows don’t get any ‘bite’ onto the road. They end up just kind of sealing it over like icing on a cake, so that really doesn’t help a lot either and again the salt’s not effective, that kind of thing.”

Tuesday’s forecast calls for no additional accumulation, so crews will begin application of salt and calcium early to maximize the effectiveness of sunlight. Motorists should anticipate changing pavement conditions over short distances as the amount of sunlight a roadway is getting will impact efforts to clear snow and ice.

Jessie says use caution when driving, or if you can stay off the roads altogether.

“Folks need to be patient,” Jessie said. “They certainly don’t have to get out, the typical winter driving messaging applies here. It’s just really, really cold so it adds that other element. If you go out and you get stuck somewhere it becomes even more dangerous just sitting in your car trying to wait for help because it is so cold.”

Options remain available for people in need of shelter from the winter weather.

“Due to the exceptionally cold temperatures our region is expected to experience between Sunday, January 14 and Tuesday, January 16, the City of Elizabethtown, City of Radcliff, and City of Vine Grove have collectively established a fundamentally consistent procedure to assist those without adequate shelter,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. 

Any citizen who is displaced and in need of assistance should contact one of the following phone numbers:

-City of Elizabethtown residents may call 270-765-4125

-City of Radcliff residents may call 270-351-4477

-City of Vine Grove residents may call 270-877-2252

Any Hardin County resident who resides outside of a municipality’s city limits may contact the police department for the city closest to them.

Nolin RECC offers tips to save energy during winter weather

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Nolin RECC is reminding residents of actions they can take to save on energy bills when winter weather puts extra demand on your utility bill.

“Setting the temperature down a couple of degrees in our home actually really makes a huge difference because those heating systems take so much energy, but when those heating units are working overtime in really cold temperatures just a simple adjustment to our habits can really help our system handle the load,” said Nolin RECC Manager of Communications Sarah Fellows. 

She says customers can reduce demand on the electric grid by moving certain activities to “off-peak times.”

“Peak demand times in the winter are typically in the morning (6 to 10 a.m.) and around dinner time (4 to 7 p.m.), so simple things like setting the dishwasher or dryer to run overnight, or cooking in a toaster oven instead of the stove can help,” Fellows said.

Other winter energy reduction tips include:

–          Cover and repair windows

–          Check and replace central heating filters regularly

–          Make energy efficient upgrades around your home

–          Program or adjust your thermostat – avoid “emergency” or “auxiliary” mode

–          Use your ceiling fan (counterclockwise) to keep warm air moving

Customers should also prepare for possible power outages that can result from windy and icy conditions. Plan ahead in order to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

“Having a back-up plan for necessary medical equipment is really important,” Fellows said. “If you or someone you love needs a device that runs on power, it’s crucial to talk with your doctor about your options for keeping it running during an outage.”

Find Nolin RECC on Facebook for more winter safety tips and information on outages.