Heat and humidity hang tough for a few more days

We wrapped up the final weekend of July with the same story we’ve been telling for days—hot and humid conditions that pushed heat index values above 100°. Monday brought more of the same across Central and Eastern Kentucky, thanks to a strong ridge of high pressure parked over the central U.S. Sunshine and highs in the low 90s were the norm, and unfortunately, it doesn’t look like much will change through midweek.

‘Rinse and Repeat’ Pattern Continues

As we head into Tuesday, the atmosphere stays mostly locked in place. That means more sunshine, more heat, and once again, the potential for dangerous heat index values in the 100–105° range. A Heat Advisory continues through Wednesday for the entire region. A few isolated storms could pop up during the afternoon, but they’ll be very hit-or-miss. Don’t rely on them for widespread relief.

If you’re spending time outdoors this week, stay hydrated, take breaks in the shade, and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day.

Relief in Sight Later This Week

By late Wednesday and into Thursday, a cold front will begin to slide in from the northwest, offering us some much-needed changes. Rain and storm chances will ramp up Thursday, which will help knock our high temperatures down into the mid-80s. The front will also begin filtering in slightly drier and more comfortable air, making it feel much less tropical compared to what we’ve endured recently.

A More Comfortable Start to August

As we flip the calendar to August on Friday, things are looking up. The front should settle just far enough south to keep us under the influence of drier air and more tolerable humidity levels. Dew points could fall into the upper 50s and low 60s, especially in the Bluegrass, which will be a huge difference from the sticky air we’ve had lately. There could still be a few isolated pop-up showers this weekend, particularly south of the I-64 corridor, but overall it’s shaping up to be a pleasant start to the new month.