Hot start to the week ahead of mid-week storms

Meteorologist Dillon Gaudet has the latest in your full ABC 36 Storm Team forecast

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – Happy Monday! We are tracking hot conditions continuing for your day today. Afternoon highs will be climbing into the mid-90s across the region. A few upper 90s can’t be ruled out either. We should stay mainly dry, though a stray shower or storm can’t be ruled out. The heat index this afternoon will be making a run at the low 100s thanks to the heat and added humidity. A muggy overnight can be expected as temperatures will struggle to drop below the mid-70s.

The heat returns on Tuesday. The first part of the day will be hot and humid, while the late day will feature storm chances. Stronger storms and heavy rain will be possible over the northern half of the viewing area. Areas along and north of I-64 have a “Slight Risk” for flash flooding. Clusters of storms to our north will be dropping in during the second half of the day. Isolated damaging wind gusts will be possible. The threat of damaging wind gusts should stay to our north though. 1-2 inches of rain will be possible Tuesday evening through Tuesday night. Heaviest amounts will be possible, leading to the localized flash flooding risk. We need the rain, especially across central Kentucky. This should provide some help, it just may be too much in a short time for some.

Lingering off and on rain and storms will continue on Wednesday. For southern Kentucky, this will be a better chance for you than Tuesday night. Off and on heavy downpours will be possible. There is a low-end, “Marginal” flash flood risk out for all of the region on Wednesday. Again, this won’t be a widespread concern. The rain will exit to the south Wednesday night into Thursday as a cold front pushes through. Lingering rain and storms will be in the forecast on Thursday for the southern half of the area.

Seasonably cooler temperatures can be anticipated on the backside of this front. Afternoon highs will struggle to get out of the low 80s on Thursday, while staying in the mid-80s on Friday. Lexington and surrounding areas should stay mainly dry late week and into the first half of the weekend. Rain and storm chances will continue over the southern half of the area as a weak area of low pressure tries to form to our south.

Stay with the ABC 36 Storm Team for more updates. 

ABC 36 HOUR FORECAST
MONDAY: Hot and humid, a stray shower or storm possible. Highs in the mid-90s.
MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy and muggy. Lows in the 70s.
TUESDAY: Partly cloudy with late storm chances. Highs in the low-to-mid 90s.