Lingering rain showers Friday morning as chilly temperatures return

Rain showers will exit during the morning hours but temperatures will struggle to climb into the low 50s

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – Lingering showers and cloudy skies are sticking around to wrap up the workweek, but the forecast ahead features a frosty start to the weekend, a nice warm-up by Sunday, and then a renewed risk of strong-to-severe storms by Monday night. Let’s break it all down.

Lingering Showers This Morning, Then a Chilly Friday

Showers will continue for parts of the region through Friday morning, especially across southeastern Kentucky. Skies will stay mostly cloudy for much of the day, and temperatures will be sluggish — starting in the 40s and only climbing into the low 50s. A few spots that see some breaks in the clouds may sneak into the mid 50s, but sunshine will be limited.

Patchy Frost to Start Saturday

With high pressure building in Friday night and skies gradually clearing, a Frost Advisory is in effect from 2 AM to 10 AM Saturday for much of the region — especially west of I-75 and into the Bluegrass, where skies will be clearer and winds lighter. Lows will dip into the low-to-mid 30s, allowing for areas of patchy frost to develop.

Saturday will stay on the cool side with highs mainly in the mid-50s. Areas west of Lexington may enjoy more sunshine, while eastern Kentucky could hold onto clouds a bit longer. Still, dry conditions are expected throughout the day.

Warming Up Sunday into Monday

We finally start to rebound on Sunday as southerly winds kick in. Highs will return to the low-to-mid 60s by the afternoon, and overnight lows will be milder Sunday night, generally in the 50s. By Monday, we’re talking low-to-mid 70s, marking the warmest day of the extended forecast. But it comes at a cost — a strong cold front will begin to approach the region late Monday into Monday night.

Monday Evening Storm Threat

The Storm Prediction Center has placed the northern half of the area in the Extended Severe Weather Outlook for Monday into Monday night, with strong-to-severe thunderstorms possible as a cold front sweeps through. We are monitoring the potential for damaging wind gusts and possibly large hail.

The biggest threats look to arrive Monday evening into Monday night. We’ll keep a close eye on the exact timing in the coming days, because the exact timing of the front pushing in will likely dictate our severe weather threat.

Cooler Again Behind the Front

Once the front clears Monday night, we’ll fall back into a cooler pattern for Tuesday and Wednesday. Breezy northwest winds will keep highs in the upper 50s to around 60, with lows dipping back into the upper 30s and low 40s.

Some patchy frost is again possible Tuesday night, especially if skies clear out and winds calm down. A brief dry stretch will follow for Wednesday, before our next system brings another chance for showers on Thursday.