Update 3:17 p.m.: No Major Issues
Mayor Greg Fischer said the snow accumulation in Louisville through early Friday afternoon hasn't been as much as anticipated. But he noted that the snowstorm is expected to last until about midnight and can potentially drop large amounts of snow quickly.
He said the city hadn't endured major issues.
"The impact has been minimal, based on what we know," said Fischer, speaking at an afternoon news update.
He said some parts of Louisville had gotten more snow than others. But he added that streets were in "pretty good shape."
He again noted that property owners are responsible for shoveling snow off the sidewalks on their property.
Public Works crews have finished a pass of salting, according to Metro Public Works.
The storm is expected to cause more issues in other parts of Kentucky. Gov. Matt Bevin has issued a state of emergency.
In Louisville, the Metropolitan Sewer District will be monitoring for flooding issues in the coming days. City officials asked residents to watch for clogged catch basins.
Update 11:31 a.m.: City Prepared, Mayor Says
As snow falls in downtown Louisville, the forecast for the region has stayed fairly consistent since the early morning Friday.
Louisville is forecast to get four to seven inches of snow through early Saturday morning, the National Weather Service said in its mid-morning update. Heavier snow amounts will be to the south and east.
In a news conference, Mayor Greg Fischer said the city is prepared to deal with issues arising from the snow. He urged property owners to clear their sidewalks and asked people to not call 911 except in real emergencies.
For those who ventured out Friday, the afternoon commute may be troublesome, said John Gordon, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Louisville. He urged people to drive slowly.
Update 7:25 a.m.: CEP Sites
With schools closed Friday ahead of a winter storm, Jefferson County Public Schools will host five YMCA Childhood Enrichment Program sites, the school system said. They will be:
- Bates: 1601 Bardstown Road
Coleridge-Taylor: 1115 W. Chestnut Street
Greathouse: 2700 Browns Lane
Northeast Family YMCA, 9400 Mill Brook Road
Olmsted South: 5650 Southern Parkway
Update 6:38 a.m.: Forecast Update
Louisville may get about seven inches of snow through the day Friday, according to the latest National Weather Service update.
The snow forecast led Jefferson County Public Schools, the University of Louisville and others to close Friday. (More closing are listed below.)
The snowstorm is expected to start in Louisville after 9 a.m. The National Weather Service said the storm may not affect the morning commute, but it could make traveling "hazardous, or even impossible, in the afternoon."
Updated: 5:16 a.m.: Closings
Jefferson County Public Schools, the University of Louisville and many other institutions are closed Friday ahead of a winter storm bringing as much as eight inches of snow to Louisville. More is expected to the south.
The National Weather Service said early Friday that the morning commute may OK for Louisville. But traveling was expected to become "hazardous, or even impossible, in the afternoon."
Other school closings include:
- Oldham County Schools
- Jefferson County Catholic Schools
- Shelby County Public Schools
- Bullitt County Public Schools
- New Albany-Floyd County Schools
- Greater Clark Schools
- West Clark Schools
- Clarksville Community Schools
- Nelson County Public Schools
- Bellarmine University
- IU Southeast
- Jefferson Community & Technical College
- Spalding University
In its early morning update, the National Weather Service forecast 6-8 inches of snow for Louisville and as much as foot just to the south, including Bullitt and Hardin counties.
The storm is moving toward Louisville from the south. The National Weather Service expects it to reach Louisville sometime between 9 a.m. and noon. The snow is expected end early Saturday morning.
Additional closings and forecast information were added to this update.
Earlier: Louisville Metro crews were preparing on Thursday for the city's second bout with snow in a week, but what exactly is moving into the region is unclear.
Metro crews were searching for slick spots on major roads, said Doug Hamilton, chief of public services. The city doesn't plan to pretreat roads with snow-diminishing chemicals; Hamilton said there should be enough left over from Wednesday's snowstorm.
He said Louisville could get a "significant snow."
But Joe Sullivan, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Louisville, said the storm could also be a "bust."
Louisville is under a winter storm warning from 7 a.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday. Here's what we know (and don't know).
The Forecast
The National Weather Service is forecasting 6 to 8 inches of snow in Louisville, with more to the south, according to the winter weather briefing issued at 4 p.m.
But that could change depending on the storm's track. During a news conference Thursday, Sullivan said Louisville is on the northern edge of the snowstorm. If the storm veers south, Louisville could get significantly less snow, perhaps in the 1-inch range.
If the storm tracks farther north than expected, Louisville's snow totals could reach the double digits, he said.
Either way, areas just south of Louisville — including Bullitt and Hardin counties — are forecast to get more snow than Louisville, perhaps a foot of snow.
Snow drifts may also be an issue in the Louisville area.
The Timing
Sullivan said the snowstorm is forecast to reach Louisville in the late morning on Friday. It's expected to end early Saturday morning.
The timing of the snowstorm has been adjusted widely in recent days. On Wednesday, meteorologists had predicted the snow to reach Louisville on Thursday evening.
The Cancellations
Jefferson County Public Schools won't likely make a call on whether classes will be held Friday until early in the morning, JCPS chief operating officer Michael Raisor said.
Raisor said the school system prefers to not dismiss students early.
Many other school systems in the Louisville area had also not yet made a call on classes for Friday.
But other school systems in the area were ready to make calls about Friday:
- Bullitt County Public Schools: Closed
- New Albany-Floyd County Schools: Closed
- Greater Clark Schools: Closed
- West Clark Schools: Closed
- Clarksville Community Schools: Closed
- Nelson County Public Schools: Closed
(Image via J. Tyler Franklin)