LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It's not the kind of cold snap Kentuckians are accustomed to.

What You Need To Know

  • Dangerously cold temperatures across Kentucky 

  • Wind chills make it feel sub zero

  • Residents are asked to avoid travel by city and state leaders

  • Snow totals are low but slick roads still a possibility

The extreme cold across Kentucky is prompting city and state leaders to ask residents to stay home, if at all possible. On Monday, air temperatures were in the single digits for much of the day as city leaders advised residents to avoid inessential travel.

Snow totals aren’t the biggest threat this week. It’s the temperatures and wind chills.

Spectrum News 1 spoke to Brent Clark outside Baptist Tower apartments in Louisville. On Monday Clark was salting the sidewalks surrounding the senior living apartments.

“Trying to make sure these residents don’t slip and fall. We’ve got to make sure because most of them are elderly,” Clark said.

Clark works in maintenance for the senior living complex, so it’s paramount the walkways surrounding the property are taken care of, but he doesn’t want to spend any more time outside than necessary.

“It’s so cold that I can literally feel the moisture in my nose freezing. That’s how cold it is out here,” Clark added.

His pair of Vans were swapped with heavier boots as he spread salt from a large bag.

Spectrum News 1 also spoke to Shawn Carson Monday. Carson is a caretaker for several residents living in Baptist Tower. Among her many duties include transporting residents to appointments or helping them run errands.

“I do a little bit of everything, transport, just a little bit of everything to make sure their needs are met,” Carson said.

Carson says job or no, it’s important to check on loved ones and neighbors during dangerously cold days. “Not just seniors, just anybody that’s in need. We’ve got to make sure they are straight,” Carson added.

Across the street at Volunteers of America and across the city, more people were moving quickly to salt sidewalks and clear parking lots. And as far as getting around Louisville, some side streets are in better shape than others, but the city’s major thoroughfares are mostly clear, but the possibility of slick spots remains.

Unfortunately, the brutal cold is sticking around. It may not be as severe as what cities like Chicago and Milwaukee are experiencing, but for Kentucky, this is notably cold.

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