Beautiful weather continues through Friday before heat and storm chances return

Cooler temperatures and low humidity stick around for another day before warmer, more unsettled weather develops this weekend.

A Cool and Comfortable Start to Thursday

We started Thursday morning on a refreshingly cool note across central and eastern Kentucky, with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s in some of our cooler locations to the low and mid-60s farther south.

Plenty of sunshine has been with us from the start, and that will continue through the rest of the day. High pressure remains in control of our weather pattern, helping keep skies mostly sunny while also funneling much drier air into the region.

Afternoon highs will reach the upper 70s and lower 80s, which is below average for late July. The lower humidity will make it feel even more comfortable outside, with dew points staying mainly in the 50s across much of the area.

Another Cool and Quiet Night Ahead

The quiet weather continues into Thursday night with mostly clear skies and light winds.

Temperatures will fall back into the upper 50s and lower 60s by Friday morning, giving us another unusually comfortable night for this time of year.

If you have outdoor evening plans, conditions should be excellent with no rain concerns and much lower humidity than what we normally expect in late July.

Friday Brings More Sunshine

Friday is shaping up to be another great day across the Bluegrass.

Expect plenty of sunshine once again with temperatures warming just a little compared to Thursday. Afternoon highs will climb into the low 80s, while humidity levels remain relatively comfortable.

Dry conditions should hold through the daytime hours Friday, making it another good day for any outdoor plans.

Rain Chances Return Heading Into the Weekend

Our stretch of completely dry weather begins to come to an end Friday night as a weak frontal boundary to our south starts lifting back north.

This will bring increasing moisture into the region and the chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms, initially favoring southern Kentucky late Friday night into early Saturday.

Rain chances continue through the weekend, especially during the afternoon and evening hours Saturday and Sunday. These storms are expected to be more isolated to scattered in nature rather than widespread, so neither day currently looks like a complete washout.

Saturday’s storms should mainly be typical summertime pulse storms. By Sunday, the atmosphere may become more unstable, and a few stronger storms cannot be ruled out. Confidence in any organized severe weather remains low at this point, but it will be something to monitor through the weekend.

Heat and Humidity Make a Comeback

Temperatures will gradually climb as we move through the weekend.

Saturday should feature highs in the low to mid-80s before temperatures jump into the upper 80s and near 90 degrees by Sunday. At the same time, humidity levels will begin increasing again as dew points rise back into the upper 60s and lower 70s.

By Sunday afternoon, heat index values could approach the upper 90s in some locations, especially west of Interstate 65.

Hotter Weather and Strong Storm Potential Next Week

The bigger change arrives early next week as temperatures climb back into the lower 90s.

Monday currently looks like the hottest day, with highs in the low 90s and high humidity potentially pushing heat index values into the 100 to 105 degree range in parts of the region.

We’ll also need to watch for the possibility of organized clusters of thunderstorms moving through the Ohio Valley Monday and Tuesday.

By the middle of next week, a cold front may bring some relief from both the heat and humidity.

ABC 36 Storm Team 36-Hour Forecast

Thursday: Mostly sunny, pleasant, and less humid. Afternoon highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear and comfortable with lows in the upper 50s to lower 60s.

Friday: Mostly sunny and slightly warmer. Highs in the low 80s with comfortable humidity levels. Dry through the daytime before rain chances begin increasing Friday night.