Strong KY Winds Could Make for Hazardous Driving

Once, in a conversation about the weather, I remember somebody saying, "Well, I wouldn't even know what a 40 mile-an-hour wind gust would feel like." To which I replied, "Head out onto a county two-lane, get it up to 40, roll down the window, and stick your arm out."

High Winds in KY Could Make for Hazardous Driving

It doesn't sound like a lot, but a 40 mile-per-hour WIND gust can be serious business in terms of property damage. Here's what a storm with gusts at that speed did in Pasco County FL in 2015:

Tonight, the National Weather Service is advising caution regarding a strong storm system that's bringing heavy snow to the north of Kentucky and severe weather to the Deep South. Wintry mixes are also on tap for north-central, east-central, and south-central Kentucky later into Tuesday night.

But here in western Kentucky, rain and wind will be the main culprits. So yes, we're getting the better end of the deal, but that wind--which is predicted to gust up to 40 MPH--is something to be taken seriously.

Tips for Driving in High Winds

The staff at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet are reportedly on high alert as they monitor the weather and prepare to respond in the event of downed trees or damage from flying debris.

If you must drive in these high winds we're expecting, KYTC offers some helpful tips:

• Keep both hands on the steering wheel
• Slow down
• Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, especially high-profile vehicles such as semi-trucks or campers that could be pushed out of their lane by winds
• Watch for flying debris that may blow into the roadway
• If winds are too severe to drive safely, pull onto the shoulder away from trees or other tall objects that could fall, turn on your hazard lights and wait until conditions improve
• If you encounter a dark traffic signal, treat is as a four-way stop

Also, if you see a downed power line, by all means, stay away from it and contact your local utility company.