Covington, Ky. – Wind gusts nearing 60 mph could knock out power and block roadways across northern and eastern Kentucky before sunset Wednesday, as strong thunderstorms push through during peak travel hours.
According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 8 p.m. for 27 counties, including Boone, Kenton, Pike, and Boyd. Storms are expected to intensify quickly, bringing damaging winds, frequent lightning, and bursts of heavy rain.
The highest impact is expected along the I-75 and I-64 corridors, where drivers in Covington, Maysville, and Ashland may encounter sudden visibility drops below one mile and water-covered roads. In eastern counties such as Pike and Letcher, steep terrain increases the risk of falling trees and localized flooding.
Residents are urged to secure outdoor items, charge mobile devices, and avoid unnecessary travel during active storms. Utility crews are on standby for potential outages as winds strengthen.
The threat is expected to ease after 8 p.m., though additional alerts could follow if storms redevelop into the evening.
