Hazy heat again Wednesday ahead of storm chances to end the week

Afternoon highs return to the mid-80s on Wednesday

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – It’s another warm and somewhat muggy Wednesday across central and eastern Kentucky. Highs this afternoon will top out in the mid-80s once again, with increasing humidity as dewpoints continue to climb. That added moisture in the air will give us a stickier feel through the afternoon and evening.

We’re also dealing with hazy skies thanks to wildfire smoke aloft. Some of that smoke has made it all the way down to the surface, which has nudged the Air Quality Index into the Moderate category for much of the area. If you’re sensitive to air quality issues, you may want to limit prolonged outdoor exposure today.

We’ll stay dry through the daylight hours today, but changes are on the way tonight. A stalled frontal boundary to our northwest will begin to sag closer to the region, and that will open the door to more unsettled weather.

Storm Chances Ramp Up

Scattered showers and storms return to the forecast late tonight into Thursday, with multiple rounds of rain and thunderstorms likely through the end of the week. A few stronger storms can’t be ruled out Thursday afternoon, especially across our western counties. Gusty winds and locally heavy downpours will be the main concerns.

However, Friday into Friday evening is shaping up to be the most active window, with a stronger wave of energy set to move through the region. The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of central and eastern Kentucky under a Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe weather. While widespread severe storms aren’t guaranteed, conditions will be favorable for a few stronger storms capable of damaging winds, hail, and heavy rainfall.

With multiple rounds of showers and storms, 1 to 3 inches of rain could fall across the region by the weekend. That may lead to localized flooding in spots that see repeated downpours. Continue to monitor the forecast closely and make sure you have a way to get alerts as we head into a more unsettled pattern.

Weekend Outlook

Showers and storms remain in the forecast for Saturday, though coverage may begin to decrease late in the day. Sunday is currently trending drier—though not completely dry—as the front tries to slide south of the region. Temperatures this weekend will trend slightly cooler, with highs back down into the upper 70s to near 80.

By Monday, another frontal boundary looks to move in from the northwest, bringing another chance for showers and thunderstorms early next week.