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Tonight, Winter storm Blair’s time in central Kentucky including Jessamine County, will come to an end according to the National Weather Service forecast. Temperatures in the teens and sometimes in the single digits this next week will keep most secondary routes slick and tough to drive on until road crews get to them.

Warning Centers + Food:

If you need shelter and someplace to get warm, there are a few options in Jessamine County. 

The Wilmore municipal building on 210 South Lexington Avenue is open as a warming center, with no sports, activities, or government offices operating in the building. All are welcome. 

Also, the Jessamine County Homeless Coalition at 218 East Maple Street in Nicholasville is open for anyone who needs heat, food, or somewhere to sleep during the frigid nights that will last until Wednesday, Jan. 15. Anyone is welcome, but must clear a background check for sex offenses before entry. 

Closures

All non-essential government offices and local businesses closed on Monday, including the Jessamine County Courthouse, the Nicholasville Police Department, Jessamine County Schools, the Jessamine County Health Department, and the Circuit Court Clerk’s office-with no District or Family Court.

Already, Jessamine County Public Schools has also announced on its website that there will be no school on Tuesday, Jan. 7 with no sports, childcare, or afterschool activities being hosted. It will be a typical snow day (with no nontraditional instruction).

Storm details

According to the Jessamine County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), the snow started at 9 AM on Sunday, Jan.  5. 

Jessamine County received snow, sleet, rain, and ice. 

According to a Facebook post by the EMA, the agency recorded about 4 inches of snow midday Sunday in north-central Jessamine County. The post called for residents in the requested area to comment their own recorded snow measurements. All on Sunday, Jan. 5, residents commented measurements from 3.5 inches to as much as 5.5 inches. 

The EMA reporter slick roadways that lead to several collisions throughout Sunday. The agency also reported a few power outages throughout the county. Around 11 p.m. on Sunday, a tree fell across a Jessamine County neighborhood’s power lines, leaving 500 residents without power. Linemen arrived, cleared the tree, and had power restored in less than an hour. 

Although road crews were celebrated by EMA Director Johnny Adams, returning snow at 9 a.m. Monday and again at about 12:45 p.m. that day lead to raids being covered again.

According to the 12:45 p.m. Facebook post, the EMA reported, “Near white out conditions are occurring at times. Please be sure that you have your headlights on, and not just an auto mode and slow down if you must be out. but please, stay off the road until conditions improve. Be observant of low, hanging trees and utility lines.” In the 9 a.m. Facebook post, the EMA warned residents to stay home today. “If you don’t have to be out, please stay in today until conditions improve and expect more power outages. Those utility crews have been amazing as well. Keeping the lights on or getting them restored quickly.” 

As a safety measure, if you lose power, do not use anything that produces carbon monoxide in your home.