Cooler air settles into Kentucky before storm chances return midweek

Dry and comfortable conditions continue through Tuesday before a stronger storm system arrives Wednesday night and Thursday

Cooler and More Comfortable Air Settles In

After a cold front moved through the region Sunday night, much cooler and drier air has settled across Central and Eastern Kentucky to start the workweek.

Monday is shaping up to be a beautiful day with plenty of sunshine and noticeably lower humidity compared to what we’ve experienced recently. Afternoon temperatures will only climb into the mid to upper 70s, which is right around normal for the middle of June.

Northwest winds and the drier air mass will keep conditions comfortable throughout the day, making it an excellent opportunity to spend time outdoors.

Chilly Night Ahead for June Standards

The comfortable weather continues into Monday night as skies remain mostly clear and winds become light.

Overnight lows will drop into the low to mid 50s across much of the area, making for one of the cooler nights we’ve seen in quite some time. A few sheltered valleys could even dip into the lower 50s by daybreak Tuesday.

Tuesday Stays Pleasant With Just a Few Shower Chances

Tuesday will feature another nice summer day across Kentucky. Sunshine will dominate much of the day, although a few fair-weather clouds will develop during the afternoon.

Temperatures will warm slightly compared to Monday, reaching the upper 70s to lower 80s. Humidity levels will remain fairly comfortable through much of the day.

As we head into Tuesday evening and overnight, a weak disturbance and cold front will approach from the north. This could spark scattered showers and a few thunderstorms, especially across southern Indiana and northern portions of Kentucky. Coverage is expected to remain isolated to scattered, and severe weather is not anticipated with this first round of activity.

Stronger Storm System Arrives Wednesday Night and Thursday

Attention then turns to a much stronger weather system expected to impact the Ohio Valley during the second half of the week.

Wednesday will begin mostly sunny and warm, but increasing southerly winds will help transport more moisture back into the region. Temperatures are expected to climb into the low to mid 80s while humidity levels increase throughout the day.

By Wednesday night and continuing into Thursday, a strong area of low pressure tracking through the Great Lakes will drag a cold front toward Kentucky. This setup will bring widespread showers and thunderstorms to the region.

While forecast details will continue to evolve over the next couple of days, confidence is increasing that strong winds will be the primary concern with this system. Gusty gradient winds outside of thunderstorms are expected, while thunderstorms themselves could produce stronger wind gusts and torrential rainfall.

There is still uncertainty regarding the exact timing and severity of the storms, but we will closely monitor this as we move closer to midweek.

Drier Weather Returns for the Weekend

Once the cold front moves through the area Thursday night into early Friday, cooler and drier air will return.

The upcoming weekend is looking much quieter, with mostly dry conditions and temperatures near 80 degrees. Sunshine and lower humidity levels should make for a pleasant start to the first official weekend of summer.

ABC 36 Storm Team 36-Hour Forecast

Monday Night: Mostly clear and cool. Lows in the low to mid 50s.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny and pleasant. Highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s. A slight chance for isolated showers and thunderstorms late.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms possible. Lows in the low to mid 60s. Severe weather is not expected.