Comfortable weather continues before storms return this weekend
Enjoy one more stretch of sunshine and lower humidity before showers, thunderstorms and heavy rain move back into Kentucky Saturday.
Sunshine and Comfortable Air Continue Across Kentucky
It’s another beautiful day across Central and Eastern Kentucky as we continue our stretch of sunshine and lower humidity.
We started Thursday morning with mostly clear skies and cool temperatures, with many communities waking up in the upper 50s and lower 60s. Thanks to high pressure remaining in control, we’ll enjoy another mostly sunny day with just a few afternoon fair-weather clouds.
Afternoon highs will climb into the low to mid-80s, making for another comfortable summer day. The biggest difference compared to last week is the much lower humidity, making it feel fantastic to spend time outdoors.
Another Pleasant Night Ahead
The comfortable weather sticks around tonight as high pressure remains over the Ohio Valley.
Skies will stay mostly clear through much of the night before some high clouds begin increasing late ahead of our next weather system. Overnight temperatures will once again fall into the low to mid-60s, making for another cool and refreshing night by late July standards.
Friday Stays Dry Before Changes Arrive
Friday will be one more great summer day before our weather pattern becomes more active.
We’ll start the day with sunshine before clouds gradually increase during the afternoon as our next storm system approaches from the Midwest. Despite the increase in cloud cover, most of Friday will remain dry.
Temperatures will warm into the mid to upper 80s during the afternoon as southerly winds begin returning warmer air and a bit more humidity to the region.
A few showers or thunderstorms may begin approaching southwestern portions of Kentucky late Friday evening, but the better chance for widespread rain will hold off until after sunset and into the overnight hours.
Storms Return Late Friday Night Into Saturday
Our quiet stretch of weather comes to an end as we head into the first weekend of August.
A developing area of low pressure will move toward the Ohio Valley Friday night, bringing increasing moisture into Kentucky. Saturday is shaping up to be the wettest day of the weekend, with numerous showers and thunderstorms expected across the area.
Some Strong Storms and Heavy Rain Possible Saturday
While rain is expected across much of the region Saturday, there is also the potential for a few stronger storms.
Forecast confidence on the severe weather threat remains somewhat low, but the atmosphere may become unstable enough during the afternoon for a few storms to produce damaging wind gusts.
Heavy rainfall will also be a concern. The atmosphere will contain plenty of moisture, allowing storms to produce rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Many locations could receive between 1 and 2 inches of rain, with locally higher totals possible where thunderstorms repeatedly move over the same areas.
Localized flash flooding may develop, especially in areas that receive multiple rounds of heavy rain.
Showers Continue Into Sunday
The unsettled weather won’t end once Saturday is over.
The same storm system will linger over the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys through Sunday, keeping scattered showers around for much of the day. Rainfall should become lighter and more scattered compared to Saturday, but you’ll still want to keep the umbrella handy if you have outdoor plans.
Looking ahead to early next week, scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms will remain possible as the weakening system slowly moves away.
ABC 36 Storm Team 36-Hour Forecast
Thursday: Mostly sunny, dry and comfortably warm. Highs in the low to mid-80s with noticeably lower humidity.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear and cool with increasing high clouds late. Overnight lows in the low to mid-60s.
Friday: Partly to mostly sunny and warmer with highs in the mid to upper 80s. Most of the day stays dry before showers and thunderstorms begin approaching late Friday evening and overnight.
