Milder and unsettled weather pattern kicks in for the holiday week

After a chilly weekend across Central and Eastern Kentucky with temperatures not even making it out of the 30s for afternoon highs, a southwest flow kicked in to begin the holiday week on Monday along with more sunshine across the region. The breezy conditions combined with the late December sun helped push temperatures back into the upper 40s and even a few low 50s in most locations which is above average for this time of the year. With the holiday upon us, it looks like a mild and unsettled weather pattern will set up across the Ohio Valley.

A weak frontal boundary will slowly drop in from the northwest on Christmas Eve bringing a chance of a few scattered showers to the area Tuesday. With temperatures into the mid-40s for afternoon highs anything that falls will be in the liquid form so there shouldn’t be any issue with last minute holiday shopping or travel plans. Overall the showers look to be hit and miss at best so we shouldn’t see a wash-out by any means but take the rain gear if you are out and about.

Heading into Christmas Day our rain chances will stick around across the commonwealth although a good bit of the day should remain dry as the leftover frontal boundary drifts to our south. A weak wave of energy should drift eastward and interact with the front, which should put out a few showers on occasion although the better chances look to stay just to our west. Unfortunately we won’t see any snowflakes this Christmas as temperatures will continue to stay unseasonably mild. Afternoon highs on Wednesday will top out in the upper 40s and low 50s despite a good bit of cloudiness around along with the shower chances.

The unsettled and mild weather pattern will stick around as we roll through the remainder of the holiday week and for the upcoming weekend. In fact much of the data is indicating well above average temperatures for the region as afternoon highs climb into the upper 50s and low 60s, which is a solid 15 degrees plus above average for the final days of the year. Thursday looks mainly dry and cloudy before we see multiple waves of energy roll through the region over the weekend. This will ramp up our rain chances on Saturday and Sunday so expect more damp and dreary weather on the table to wrap up 2024.

ABC 36 HOUR FORECAST
MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy, a late shower. Lows in the upper-30s.
CHRISTMAS EVE: Morning showers then mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid-40s.
TUESDAY NIGHT: More clouds, another late shower chance. Lows in the upper-30s.