Dangerous cold grips Kentucky, as thousands remain without power

The snow and ice are done moving through our area, but the bitter air left behind can pose even bigger threats.

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If you're reading this from under a pile of blankets, you're making the right call. Kentucky is facing dangerously cold conditions that the National Weather Service isn't mincing words about.

The agency issued an Extreme Cold Warning that kicked in at 7 p.m. Monday evening and runs through 11 a.m. Tuesday morning. We're talking wind chills dropping to 18 below zero- the kind of cold that can cause frostbite and hypothermia in minutes if you're not protected.

This comes on the heels of a Cold Weather Advisory that was in effect through Monday evening, with wind chills dipping to 13 below. The bottom line from forecasters: if you don't have to go outside, don't. If you do, layer up with a hat, face mask, and gloves. And keep those trips as short as possible.

Power outages are complicating an already dangerous situation

The extreme cold wouldn't be manageable for most people if they could just stay inside with the heat on. But that's not the reality for tens of thousands of Kentuckians right now.

As of Sunday afternoon, Gov. Andy Beshear reported 68,654 power outages across the state. His office has been coordinating emergency responses in multiple counties:

At Barren River State Park, guests were evacuated after losing power and transported to a YMCA where the Red Cross set up an emergency shelter. In London, hotels went dark, and the Kentucky National Guard stepped in to move 150 guests to warming centers.

A hospital in Greenberg lost power and its backup generator failed, but power has since been restored and patients no longer need to be transported.

Gov. Beshear emphasized that roadways remain slick and dangerous, urging Kentuckians to stay off the roads if at all possible.

Jefferson County halts evictions through February 2

Recognizing the life-threatening nature of these conditions, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office announced Sunday it's temporarily suspending all residential evictions and set-outs through February 2.

The decision will keep approximately 30 families in their homes while the dangerous cold persists.

"This is a public safety decision- plain and simple," said Chief Deputy Col. Steve Healey. "Extreme cold can be deadly. No family should be forced out of their home when conditions put their health or their life at risk."

The court orders aren't being cancelled- just delayed until it's safe to enforce them. "We're using common sense and discretion to make sure enforcement happens safely," Healey explained.

It's the kind of decision that recognizes what we're dealing with here: conditions that can genuinely kill people who don't have shelter.

What you need to know

Check on your elderly family members, friends, and neighbors- especially those who might be without power. A wellness check could be lifesaving in conditions like these.

If you're using space heaters, follow the safety guidelines. And this should go without saying, but it bears repeating every time temperatures drop like this: never use generators or grills indoors. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a real and deadly risk.

If you've lost power and can't stay warm at home, warming centers are open across the state. You can find locations through your local emergency management office or by calling 211.

This cold snap should ease by late Tuesday morning, but until then, take these warnings seriously. Stay warm, stay safe, and look out for each other.

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