Local leaders are urging residents to avoid travel during inclement weather this weekend — with the Thursday morning forecast projecting an 80%-90% chance of more than 4 inches of snow in Bowling Green and surrounding counties this weekend, as well as some forecasts calling for much more.

National Weather Service-Louisville Meteorologist Mark Jarvis provided the Thursday morning forecast, and local agencies shared how they’re preparing. Numerous city and county representatives and authorities have urged that people stay home during inclement weather if possible, given that the NWS had put the greater area under a winter storm watch on Wednesday, to begin Friday overnight.

“We’re going to do everything we can to keep everybody informed — let the public know if you don’t have to travel this weekend, stay home with your families,” Warren County Emergency Management Director Ronnie Pearson said at a Fiscal Court meeting.

Jarvis anticipates the storm will go from early Saturday after sunrise to the end of Sunday, about midnight Monday. There’s a 35-40% chance the snow will exceed 12 inches, he added.

Jarvis and county leaders separately warned that low temperatures would follow: after a storm, the temperature would be around 0-5 degrees Monday and Tuesday, and not rise much during the week, with lows being in the single digits and highs around 10-20 degrees; with enough snow, temperatures could dip below 0 degrees, he said.

It’s a pretty significant storm, Jarvis added — one where they could see shutdowns in parts of the state, with travel becoming increasingly difficult during the day Saturday, and likely impossible at times Saturday night into the day on Sunday.

“It would not surprise me to see portions or sections of the interstate being closed because there’s so much snow that’s fallen on it,” he said. “They’re going to try to keep up with it as best they can, but here in the state, they can handle 2-3 inches per hour of snow rate, and we may exceed that at times during this event (…).”

So far, most freezing rain is anticipated to occur in Tennessee and south, but while it’s not highly likely in the area, there’s still the chance, he said. If it happens, the water coats power lines and trees and then freezes into ice — which can break a power line or make tree branches heavy enough to fall onto lines.

People will likely be able to prepare for the storm — getting gas, going shopping and so forth — Thursday and Friday, days that Jarvis anticipates will likely be fine.

It’s likely that following early morning snow, it’ll pick up through the morning into the afternoon, he said. The snow may be heavy at times Saturday evening, and at night into Sunday morning, there’s a chance of snow mixing in with or changing over to sleet before turning back to snow later in the day.

Local prep

Bowling Green Public Works plans to begin brining roads Friday and will have salt crews carry out their first 12-hour shift at night, BGPW Director Andy Souza said. The department plans to run trucks 24/7 after, he added, and they plow based on priority routes that go from A-D.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3, which serves 10 area counties, began anti-icing operations Thursday morning, and it anticipates completing routes by Friday afternoon.

Once the winter system moves in, the cabinet will be ready to respond, plow, and salt roads, Watt said — adding that it’s vital people exercise patience as they work on a road system prioritized by A, B and C routes. With winter weather systems like the one predicted, the cabinet may need to stay on priority A routes for a long time before getting to the B and C routes, he said.

“We’ve done everything we can to prepare for this winter weather event,” KYTC-DE Public Information Officer Wes Watt said. “All of our equipment is ready to go, our salt supplies are in good shape, and we have a plan for deployment of state forces.”

Bowling Green Police Department is monitoring the forecast and communicating with the weather service and Emergency Management to prepare, BGPD Public Information Officer Ronnie Ward said.

Warren County Sheriff Brett Hightower said he’s communicated with staff to prepare vehicles with additional food, water and other potential needs such as clothing to ensure they’re prepared.

Numerous local organizations — including the Warren County Public Library, Bowling Green Neighbors, Hotel Inc, LifeSkills through the Wellness Connection center, the Salvation Army, and First Christian Church — are collaborating to help residents get through the week.

Salvation Army is open when temperatures are below 35 degrees, and Room in the Inn provides overnight shelter and meals.

The Little Free Shuttle is accessible to help people get to warming centers at 270-781-4882, ext. 904. The Warren Sheriff’s Office — while it may take additional time if other priorities arise — will also be transporting people to warming centers, accessible via 270-842-1633.

More information about resources will come in the Daily News weekend edition.