Sunshine, warmth, and a dry stretch ahead

Hot afternoons, mild nights, and plenty of sunshine dominate the week ahead.

Another Hot and Sunny Weekend

Saturday brought more of the same weather we’ve seen lately — plenty of sunshine, warm temperatures, and highs climbing into the upper 80s with a few spots touching 90. That summerlike feel will stick with us into Sunday, so if you’re planning to be outdoors, sunscreen and water are a must.

For those heading to the Kentucky football game tonight, kickoff temperatures will be in the low to mid-80s. But once the sun dips below the horizon, the mercury will fall fast — expect temperatures in the upper 60s not long after kickoff. That’s a sharp temperature drop in less than an hour, so you may want to pack a light layer for later in the game.

Looking Ahead to Next Week

The warm, dry pattern doesn’t stop with the weekend. High pressure and upper-level ridging will keep us hot and mostly rain-free through much of the workweek. Afternoon highs are expected to climb into the upper 80s and low 90s, while overnight lows hover in the low to mid-60s. Humidity will remain on the lower side, which helps keep the heat a little more tolerable, but it won’t change the fact that this stretch is unusually warm for mid-September.

The bigger concern is the continued lack of rain. While the latest drought monitor shows slight improvement in parts of Kentucky, the longer we go without rainfall, the more drought conditions and fire risks may worsen.

Late-Week Relief Possible

There is finally a glimmer of hope by the end of next week. Forecast models suggest the there could be a chance in the current pattern as we head into next weekend. If that happens, it could bring some much-needed showers and cooler temperatures, with highs dropping back into the lower 80s and lows into the upper 50s and lower 60s.

We’ll be watching closely to see if this rain chance holds up, since it would be the first real opportunity for widespread moisture in weeks.

ABC 36 Weather Team 36-Hour Forecast

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and comfortable, lows in the mid to upper 60s.

Sunday: Mostly sunny with a slight chance of a stray shower early, highs in the upper 80s to near 90.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy and mild, lows in the mid to upper 60s.