031220 6 a block

031220 6 a block

Y1616fyfy c1 3 and i'm veronica jean seltzer.

We are looking at a threat of severe weather tonight... including the chance for tornadoes.

Meteorologist justin roth is tracking the storms. friday will be a nice break from all gloomy and nasty weather we've had this week, but it doesn't last long.

The second system arrives late saturday morning and we can expect a cold rain most of the day as it continues into the early hours of sunday morning as another wave of energy moves through with more rain showers likely.

Temperatures get really warm into next week with partly cloudy skies monday but showers will be likely once again tuesday.

Stay tuned!

Tonight: mostly cloudy skies with showers and storms, lows in the mid 40s friday: partly sunny, highs in the mid to upper 50s saturday: showers likely, highs in the upper 40s sunday: partly cloudy skies, showers likely in the morning, highs in the low 50s monday: partly cloudy skies, highs in the mid 60s tuesday: partly cloudy skies, showers likely, highs in the upper 60s low 70s wednesday: partly sunny skies, highs in the upper 60s low 70s thursday: showers likely, highs in the upper 60s now to our other top story of the day... now to our other top story of the day... c1 3 and the lastest on the coronavirus and its impact on kentucky.

Governor andy beshear gave an update just a short time ago... and he says he is recommending all schools close for two weeks.

The governor wants schools to close starting monday.

He says that's to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

He also revealed that two more kentuckians have tested positive for the virus... one case in lexington... the other in jefferson county.

That brings the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases to ten.

Beshear also says he has declared a state of emergency.

Lexington's mayor this afternoon announced the city's new response to the virus.

Linda gorton is recommending...beg inning tomorrow...people postpone or cancel all public events until further notice.

She urged people to use technology to hold events in place of face-to-face gatherings.

She also praised people for taking precautions and following guidelines.

"we recognize that this will be painful for some groups, but we also know that we must do everything we can to protect the lives of our citizens."

And a major announcement from c1 3 college sports today.... as the biggest conferences in college sports cancelled their basketball tournaments over concerns about the spread of the virus.... including the s-e-c.... where u-k was scheduled to play in that tournament tomorrow in nashville.

Abc 36 sports director bryan kennedy is joining us with more on the announcement... and the impact.

Bryan... this puts the n-c-a-a tournament in jeopardy.

Sports have often been a chance for us to escape from reality and get full engrossed in a game..

But for the first time in a long time...reality has invaded sports.

Due to the threat of the coronavirus...most sporting events have been canceled or postponed.

First the n-c-a-a has made it official...the n-c-a-a tournament has been canceled.

There will be no march madness.

The s-e-c tournament has been canceled.

It's not happening.

As for other s-e-c sporting events...from wednesday march 12 through at least march 30th there will be no sports.

So what is next for the s-e-c in general...not just including basketball?

Here's s-e-c commissioner greg sankey.

Of course... it's a very different scene in nashville than what solid blue fans c1 3 what solid blue fans expected.

Lee and hayley made the trip down to c1 3 nashville... and guys... what's it like there now?

The major sports cancellations... including the sec tournament is c1 3 worrying some businesses that sell kentucky merchandise.

Abc 36's alexus larson went to all sports in lexington... where the general manager says this could be a big hit to the store.

"typically on the day before sec tournament we're packed in here."

But as you can see... that's not the case.

In fact, for a day that's supposed to be busy... it was pretty bare.

"it's quiet here today."

"the general manager of all sports says if he would've known the sec tournament was going to be cancelled, he would've ordered half the amount of kentucky merchandise."

"we make sure we have a stock in the kentucky department this time of year because of this and because of march madness."

General manager, greg montgomery says one of his first customers of the day... bought around 300 dollars worth of stuff.

A few hours later... when the customer saw the tournament was cancelled... he came back and returned everything.

"it's a huge blow to the weekend and the economy."

Fans are disappointed too.

"just is devastating you know that's what this state lives for you know is the sec tournament."

Fan and customer, bryan katzman was thrilled to watch the games... and was ready to have some new merchandise.

Although he's sad the tournament is cancelled... he says he'll still make purchases.

"if anything it wants me to go out and show my pride."

Customers like katzman is exactly what all sports wants and needs.

The general manager says this could cost them thousands of dollars.

But he doens't want the virus spread either...all sports has started offering free delivery in lexington so people don't have to come into the store.

He's hoping even though the tournament is cancelled...people will still buy...just to help out.

"come in and support your cats."

In lexington, alexus larson, abc 36 news.

### more coronavirus impact...the sweet 16 basketball tournament at rupp arena is canceled.

Abc 36's christy bollinger has reaction.

"it's going to be an empty arena here at rupp for the rest of the week and into the weekend.

Fans tell me they were told twenty minutes before their game that the tournament was cancelled."

Cheering this was one of the last cheers heard at the girls' sweet sixteen tournament... because minutes later... the kentucky high school athletic association cancelled the tournament... including the rest of the games for thursday... due to coronavirus concerns.

"i think we're overreacting to be honest about the coronavirus.

I don't think it's that serious."

The first game to be cancelled was henderson county versus marshall county... both schools at least a three-hour drive from lexington.

"well, we drove 3 and 1/2 hours ya know the girls they've been looking forward to this.

The last week we've hyped it up at school and now we get here we sit down and they decide to tell us that we can't play."

After the news broke...i saw dozens of players crying..

Coaches upset...all of them asking why they couldn't have been told sooner.

"it's kind of disappointing they're not gonna have the opportunity to know if they're gonna win state or not so."

"i just feel bad for the girls that want to play they came they worked their butts off to get here.

They need to be able to play."

Though pikeville lost wednesday..

The team still came out to see thursday's games.

The coach wanted it to be a learning experience... but that was cut short.

"well i think as an athletic director and a coach you want what's best for your kids and khsaa is obviously making decisions based on what's best for our kids so i'm just gonna trust them and trust what they're doing is the right thing."

Next week's boys' sweet 16 tournament at rupp is also off... the association says it'll look to reschedule later in the spring..

If at all possible.

"the khsaa says every ticket will be refunded.

Here in downtown lexington, christy bollinger, abc 36 news."

Severe thunderstorms...ev en tornadoes are possible tonight.

Meteorologist justin roth has the