Late July heat builds up into the late week

We finally enjoyed another dry stretch on Wednesday—a welcome break from the stormy pattern that’s dominated much of July. Sunshine was plentiful across Central and Eastern Kentucky, with only a few scattered clouds passing through. Afternoon highs surged into the low 90s, right where we typically are for late July, but the heat was made worse by elevated humidity levels. Many locations saw heat indices climb into the upper 90s to around 100 degrees, and areas west of Lexington felt even hotter. With a ridge of high pressure firmly in place, this trend of hot and humid weather isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Heat Advisory north and west into Thursday

Thursday will bring another round of sweltering conditions, with highs climbing back into the low 90s and heat index values once again creeping into the low 100s—especially west of I-75. A Heat Advisory has been issued for areas stretching from Frankfort to Bardstown and points westward, where heat indices will be most oppressive. Light winds and high humidity will make it feel very uncomfortable, so make sure to drink plenty of water, wear light clothing, and take breaks in the shade or air conditioning if you’ll be outside for any length of time.

A stray afternoon storm is possible as the heat and humidity build, but any activity that does develop will be isolated and short-lived. Most of the region will stay hot and dry.

More of the Same Friday, Storm Chances Return This Weekend

Friday will feature a near carbon copy of Thursday—hot, muggy, and mostly dry. Highs will top out in the low 90s once again, and while most areas will stay dry, a weakening cold front just to our north could help spark a few isolated storms by the afternoon or evening.

As we move into the weekend, that same boundary is expected to stall out across the Ohio Valley, increasing our chances for scattered storms on Saturday and Sunday. While it won’t be an all-day rain event, a few storms could bring heavy downpours and gusty winds. Outdoor plans don’t need to be canceled, but you might want to keep an umbrella handy just in case. Temperatures will remain on the hot side, with highs holding in the low 90s through the weekend.

Even Hotter Early Next Week

The final days of July look even hotter as the ridge of high pressure strengthens over the Ohio Valley. Afternoon highs could surge into the mid-90s early next week, and when you factor in the humidity, heat index values may push well into the 100-105° range. Storm chances look minimal during this stretch, so heat safety will remain a top priority.