A few showers and storms around to kick off the weekend

It shouldn't be a total washout with a dry Sunday on the way

3 hours ago

T.G. Shuck,

We’ve enjoyed some great weather the last few days here in Central and Eastern Kentucky and Friday was no exception with sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures. With a frontal boundary approaching from the west, winds kicked in out of the south once again helping to push afternoon highs back into the upper 70s and low-80s. A few scattered showers and storms tried to develop but struggled a good bit during the afternoon hours as the front pressed eastward but a better chance of storms into early Saturday may be a prelude of things to come as we kick off the weekend.

The aforementioned front will continue to weaken and slow down as it drops into Southern Kentucky on Saturday keeping things a little wet and stormy from time to time. The most favorable area for rain and a few storms looks to be areas south and east of Lexington. While this may disrupt some outdoor plans, it’s not a bad thing overall given the ongoing drought conditions across the commonwealth. Afternoon highs will still be pleasant for the end of April with temperatures topping out in the mid-70s, although a few spots down in the south and east could be a bit cooler and hang into the mid-60s where the steadier rain falls.

High pressure will nose into the Great Lakes on Sunday pushing drier air back into the region as the frontal system sinks to the south. This should set us up for a nice finish to the weekend with sunshine returning to the area. It should be a good day for outdoor activities so get out and enjoy what should be a delightful spring day. A light northeast wind coupled with the sunshine should hold afternoon highs into the low to mid-70s. A cold front and an area of low pressure will move working eastward on Monday but much of the data is slowing that system down to where showers and storms may not arrive now until Monday and into Tuesday. This scenario would work to our advantage with a mainly dry and warm beginning to next week as afternoon highs work back toward the 80 degree mark.

While a legitimate severe weather threat looks to be on the tap for areas to our west early next week the timing of the front arriving during the early hours of Tuesday may lessen the potential here in Central and Eastern Kentucky but that’s something we’ll have to monitor in the coming days. Looks for scattered showers and storms Tuesday as we shift into a more unsettled pattern heading into the final days of April. Low end shower chances will remain in place through the middle of next week as a couple of weak frontal boundaries bring reinforcing shots of cooler air in. Afternoon highs may not get out of the 60s by Kentucky Oaks Day next Friday so we’ll keep an eye on that window as we draw closer to Derby weekend.