Update 8:19 p.m.: Closings
Jefferson County Public Schools will be closed Thursday because of the winter weather moving through the Louisville area on Wednesday evening.
Also closed:
- New Albany-Floyd County Schools
- Clarksville Community Schools
- West Clark Community Schools
- Greater Clark Schools
- Jefferson County Catholic Schools
- Bullitt County Public Schools
- Nelson County Schools
- University of Louisville
Update 4:15 p.m.: Latest Weather Forecast
Louisville may get between four to nine inches of snow starting Wednesday evening and ending Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service's latest update. That's less snow than in previous forecasts, but still enough to cause issues in the area.
Less snow is forecast for north of Louisville and more for south of the city, the National Weather Service said.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer urged residents to move vehicles from snow routes. He also asked residents to shovel sidewalks on their properties. The city also announced plans for removing snow from TARC stops. Meanwhile, Jefferson County Public Schools and Jefferson County Catholic Schools are monitoring the weather but have not made a decision about classes on Thursday.
City road crews will start salting once the snow starts, officials said.
Update 11:51 a.m.: UofL Closing Early
The University of Louisville announced it will close at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Update 11:43 a.m.: Latest Forecast
The rain falling on Louisville is forecast to transition to snow in the mid- or late afternoon Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service's morning update.
The Louisville area may get eight to 11 inches of snow before the system moves out of the region late Thursday morning, the National Weather Service said.
Before the snow, the Louisville area is expected to get two or three inches of rainfall, and the National Weather Service is warning of flooding issues.
Update 11 a.m.: More on Why JCPS Decided to Close
Louisville area school systems made a wide range of decisions Wednesday about whether to hold classes—and for how long.
The decision to cancel classes Wednesday for Jefferson County Public Schools came amid forecasts of heavy snow and dipping temperatures, said Mandy Simpson, spokeswoman for the school district.
Simpson said all scenarios were considered, including a partial school day, "but when we got that forecast this morning we knew that in order to uphold safety as a No. 1 priority, which it always is, that we needed to close,” she said.
JCPS transports nearly 70,000 students on more than 900 buses every day, Simpson said. In “ideal conditions” it’s a process that takes nearly three and a half hours.
Earlier: Jefferson County Public Schools are closed Wednesday because of winter weather moving into the Louisville area.
Other school systems closed or changing schedules on Wednesday include:
- New Albany-Floyd County Schools: 2-hour early dismissal
- Bullitt County Public Schools: 2-hour early dismissal
- Oldham County Public Schools: Closed
- Jefferson County Catholic Schools: Dismiss at 1 p.m.
The National Weather Service forecasts nine to 12 inches of snow for Louisville and the surrounding area. Rain is forecast for Wednesday morning, but it's expected to transition to snow in the afternoon (the latest forecast puts steady snow starting at about 3 p.m. in Louisville). The snow is forecast to continue until perhaps early Thursday afternoon.