A much needed quiet weekend of weather ahead

It was a frigid start to the day across Central and Eastern Kentucky, with single-digit temperatures in many locations. A fresh snowpack, combined with Arctic air in place, set the stage for another bitterly cold morning. The only thing that kept us from dropping even lower was a deck of low clouds that drifted in from the Great Lakes overnight. Those clouds helped to trap a little warmth, keeping a few spots in the low teens.

Those same clouds were stubborn throughout much of the day in Central and Northeastern Kentucky, which slowed our warm-up considerably and held temperatures down a bit into the mid-20s. Those areas across the south and southwestern part of the viewing area enjoyed plenty of sunshine and temperatures responded as a result with many spots reaching the upper 20s and flirted with 30 degrees but the overall chill stayed locked in for another day. The good news? A much-needed break from the active weather is finally here, with a dry and milder stretch on the horizon.

A Dry and Milder Weekend

After the past week of snow, ice, and bitter cold this weekend will finally offer some relief. Saturday starts off chilly with morning lows in the teens to near 20 degrees, but we’ll quickly turn things around. A weak disturbance passing to our south will throw a few extra clouds our way early in the day but sunshine will win out by the afternoon. Thanks to that increasing sunshine, temperatures will finally climb above freezing reaching the mid-30s by the afternoon.

Sunday looks even better! High pressure settles in, bringing us wall-to-wall sunshine and a solid warm-up. Highs will climb into the mid-40s, making it feel much more comfortable compared to the recent Arctic chill. If you’ve been stuck inside all week, Sunday will be a great day to get outside and shake off that cabin fever.

Next Week – A Taste of Spring?

The warming trend continues into early next week, with Monday’s highs soaring into the low 50s. After spending the past several days well below freezing, this will be a welcome change! More importantly, we stay dry, which will help with ongoing flood recovery efforts across parts of the state.

Tuesday brings a weak system that could throw a few sprinkles our way, but it’s nothing to worry about. Temperatures will remain mild, topping out in the mid-50s. A stronger wave of low pressure moves in late Wednesday into Thursday, bringing a better chance for scattered rain showers. However, with highs staying in the upper 40s to low 50s, this will be all rain, not snow.

ABC 36 Storm Team 3-Day Forecast:

Friday night: Partly cloudy early, then sunny. Lows in the mid to upper teens.
Saturday: Morning clouds giving way to afternoon sunshine. Highs in the mid-30s.
Saturday night: Mostly clear and chilly. Lows in the low 20s.

☀️ Enjoy the weekend warm-up, and stay with ABC 36 for the latest updates!