LOUISVILLE, Ky. — At stores like the ValuMarket on Bardstown Road, a new shipment of cases of water came just in time this week as shoppers prepare and stock up for this week's winter storm.
"You're talking about anywhere from a quarter of an inch to three quarters of an inch of ice -- that's a whole different ballgame," manager Mike Whitaker said.
Considering supply chain issues we've seen in weeks past, staff shortages due to COVID-19 and other winter storms, many grocery aisles in Louisville are relatively well-stocked as of Wednesday afternoon -- including the Kroger in Germantown.
Noticeably, supply was lower for essential items like water and bread, but with plenty of options still available. State experts tell customers that could change with each hour closer to when the storm hits.
In mid-January, WHAS11 showed you the at-times empty shelves for certain foods at grocery stores. Now, experts believe there's potential the incoming weather could cause further delays.
"Weather events like this only make that strain worse," said Steve McClain, director of communications for the Kentucky Retail Federation and the Kentucky Grocers & Convenience Store Association (KGCSA).
RELATED: Consumers greeted with empty shelves, scarcity of items amid supply chain and staffing challenges
The Kentucky Grocers Association said there's been improvements recently, but the progress is now being met with a spike in customer demand, especially for non-perishable foods, ahead of the storm.
"That stuff will disappear probably today as people are out trying to get stuff," McClain said.
McClain said once those items are gone, it's just a matter of waiting to see how long it will take to get things back on the shelves.
Meanwhile, Whitaker tells WHAS11 he's seen supply move quicker since mid-January, but some items are still slow to restock.
"Out of about 20 kinds of items, five or six are back in. [It's] little by little," Whitaker said.
State experts believe the storm, especially if there are power outages, could delay stores from getting restocked. They say the potential slowdowns in shipments will be the biggest player.
"If you have roadways that are shut down because of ice, for several days, that just takes longer to get those trucks rolling again to get supplies in there," McClain said.
Grocery stores like ValuMarket said they will remain open in the coming days. They have generators in the event of lost power.
Ultimately though, the consistent message is unless you're in dire need, get this kind of shopping done beforehand.
Contact reporter Isaiah Kim-Martinez at ikimmartin@whas11.com. You can follow him on Twitter (@isaiah_km) and Facebook.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.