A powerful winter storm plowed through Kentucky Thursday night, bringing dangerously cold conditions and bitter wind chills with it that will last through the holiday weekend.
Gov. Andy Beshear said as of Friday morning, three Kentuckians have died as a result of the storm—two from car accidents and one unsheltered individual due to subzero wind chill conditions.
Beshear warned residents Saturday to avoid a snowy stretch of Interstate 71 after a series of accidents over two days caused significant traffic backups.
“We got one cleared, then another happened. We got that cleared, and then another happened,” Beshear said during a news briefing Saturday. “If you can avoid it, please do. Don’t travel if you don’t have to.”
Highways officials said on social media that traffic on the interstate in northern Kentucky was backed up for 14 miles. One lane of southbound traffic was open but traffic was moving slowly and that it would take several hours to route vehicles onto alternate roads.
Several stretches of I-65 and I-64 have also been shut down due to major accidents.
State and local crews—and some local volunteers—are working around the clock to get Kentucky's icy roadways clear and safe for travel over the Christmas weekend.
Follow Spectrum News 1's live blog for the latest weather updates and road conditions around the Commonwealth.