Hot and humid Wednesday ahead of storms for the Fourth of July
Meteorologist Dillon Gaudet has the latest in your full ABC 36 Storm Team forecast
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – Happy Wednesday! It was a much warmer start to the day today compared to yesterday as heat and humidity builds across the region. Our far northern and western counties do have a Heat Advisory out through this evening due to the heat index approaching the 105-109 range. We won’t be getting quite that hot and humid here locally but it will certainly be feeling hot and humid. Afternoon highs will be reaching the low-to-mid 90s for most. The daytime looks to stay mainly dry outside of a few pop-up storms in central Kentucky.
Strong storms will be moving from the northwest later this evening into the overnight hours. There is a Level 2 Severe Risk due to damaging wind gusts out for areas north and west of Lexington. This drops to a Level 1 Severe Risk for Lexington southward to Madison County, before dropping off to no risk for southern and southeastern Kentucky. There is such a sharp cutoff because the storms likely won’t be making it to those areas. On top of the damaging wind gust threat, there is an elevated risk for flash flooding for areas north and west of Lexington as well. Heavy downpours resulting in localized flooding will be possible.
Heading into the 4th of July will be tracking another round of storms moving through the region. Some of the lingering showers and storms from the overnight round may still be around for the first part of the day. But the main action will be moving in during the midday through the afternoon. Slower moving storms may be possible which could result in another localized flash flooding risk. There is also a Level 1 Severe Risk out for all of Kentucky due to isolated strong-to-damaging wind gusts.
Futurecast has been pointing towards a break in the rain chances by the evening hours, which could lead to a window to get some fireworks in. There is still some uncertainty around when this break will happen but I don’t expect anyone to have to sit through rain the entire day through the evening hours. There will be some breaks!
Friday will be our final round of storms to push through the region this week. This will pose another isolated strong-to-severe storm threat. This round of storms is ahead of a cold front which will bring some drier air for the weekend.
The weekend is looking great across the region! There may be a few lingering showers and storms during the EARLY morning hours on Saturday, but then you can expect really nice conditions for the rest of the day. Temperatures will be right around average and the humidity won’t be unbearable. Great lake and/or pool weather!
Stay with the ABC 36 Storm Team for more updates.
ABC 36 HOUR FORECAST
WEDNESDAY: Hot and humid with a few storms late. Highs in the low 90s.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Round of storms north, heavy at times. Lows in the mid-70s.
THURSDAY (4TH OF JULY): Scattered-to-numerous storms. Highs in the mid-to-upper 80s.
