MOUNT STERLING, Kentucky — Light snow developing late Friday morning slickened travel across the Mountain Parkway corridor from Mount Sterling east through Campton and Stanton, where up to one inch of snow accumulated through 6 p.m. Friday, creating hazardous conditions for drivers across east central and southeast Kentucky.
The National Weather Service in Jackson kept a Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 8 a.m. through 6 p.m. Friday for Montgomery, Bath, Powell, Menifee, Wolfe, Breathitt, and Knott counties, warning that snow developing late morning and early afternoon could briefly mix with rain before tapering off by evening.
While totals remained modest, the timing increased risk. Wet snow coated road surfaces during peak travel hours, particularly along the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway, where reduced traction slowed traffic near Campton, Stanton, and Slade. Crews reported slick conditions developing quickly on bridges and elevated roadways as surface temperatures hovered near freezing.
Additional trouble spots emerged along Kentucky Route 15, where snow-covered stretches affected travel through Jackson, Hindman, and Pippa Passes, and along Kentucky Route 11 near Mount Sterling and Owingsville. In rural valleys and shaded mountain cuts, untreated secondary roads turned slick faster than main highways, increasing stopping distances.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet urged motorists to reduce speeds and allow extra braking room, especially during the late afternoon and evening commute when lingering moisture refreezes on colder pavement. Even light snowfall amounts can create outsized impacts in the region’s narrow valleys and winding road network.
Snow tapers off by early evening, and the advisory expires at 6 p.m. Friday. Any leftover slick spots may persist into the evening hours before gradual improvement overnight as roads dry and temperatures stabilize.
