Heat and humidity continue Tuesday

Our hot and humid stretch peaks on Tuesday with highs reaching the low-to-mid 90s

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – It’s been a steamy stretch—and Tuesday is shaping up to be the hottest day of this prolonged warm and humid pattern across central and eastern Kentucky. Heat Advisories remain in place across the northern half of the region, and while not all areas may technically meet advisory criteria, the cumulative impact of multiple days with little nighttime relief and triple-digit heat indices is cause for concern. Be smart and stay safe in this early season heat.

Heat Builds Tuesday

Tuesday will likely be the peak of this hot and humid spell. High temperatures will top out in the low-to-mid 90s, with heat index values soaring into the low 100s. That’s more than enough to cause heat-related issues, especially for those spending prolonged time outdoors. Overnight lows will once again struggle to dip below the low 70s, offering little relief.

You’ll also notice less of a breeze and minimal cloud cover for much of the day, making it feel even more oppressive in direct sunlight. If you’re spending time outdoors, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water, wearing light-colored clothing, and taking frequent breaks in the shade or air conditioning when possible.

A Few Stray Showers

While most of the area stays dry, a stray shower or storm can’t be ruled out late this afternoon and early evening. Coverage will be even lower than what we saw Monday, with any activity staying widely isolated and short-lived. Still, any storm that does develop could produce a brief downpour and some gusty winds.

Mid-to-Late Week: Storm Chances Gradually Increase

The upper-level ridge that’s been keeping us dry and hot will begin to weaken slightly midweek, and that opens the door for isolated pop-up showers and storms to return Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. These will still be hit-or-miss, but storm coverage should gradually increase, especially as we head into Friday and the weekend.

The atmosphere will remain very humid and unstable, meaning any storms that do form will be capable of producing brief downpours, frequent lightning, and locally gusty winds.

Despite the added rain chances, the overall feel won’t change much—above-average warmth and muggy air will stick around, with highs staying in the upper 80s to low 90s through the weekend.