Historic windstorm causes damage to UK campus, downtown Lexington

On March 3, severe storms blew through central Kentucky, bringing high winds, heavy rain and damage to structures across Lexington. According to the National Weather Service, winds reached speeds of 70 mph. Downed trees and power lines caused power outages for many Lexington residents; there were still over 5,000 power outages across the commonwealth on Wednesday, according to data from poweroutage.us.

Portions of UK’s campus sustained damage and isolated traffic light power outages on Friday. However, university spokesperson Jay Blanton said the campus was very fortunate.

Blanton said while some campus facilities had structural damage, repair efforts began immediately.

The glass windows of the pedway connecting UK’s Cornerstone Garage to campus shattered from the high winds, leaving pieces of glass in the walkway and on South Limestone Street below.

The pedway was temporarily closed to pedestrian traffic but reopened the morning of March 6, boards covering the damaged windows. Downtown Lexington also saw damage from the high winds; the Fayette County Circuit Courthouse on Short Street lost part of its roofing, temporarily blocking the roadway.