More storms and flooding concerns continue across Kentucky
Active Weather Continues After Tornado Warnings Tuesday Night
It was another active night of weather across Central and Eastern Kentucky as strong to severe storms pushed through the area Tuesday evening into the overnight hours.
Several Tornado Warnings were issued across the region, including one near Stanton and parts of Powell County where there were reports of downed trees, downed power lines, and even multiple funnel cloud reports. A damage survey team from the National Weather Service Jackson is expected to survey the area to determine whether a tornado officially touched down.
Scattered Showers Continue Through Today
After the overnight storms moved out, much of Wednesday started on a cloudy and damp note with scattered showers continuing to move through parts of the Bluegrass and surrounding areas.
Those scattered showers will continue through the remainder of the morning and into the afternoon hours as plenty of moisture remains in place across the region.
Some breaks in the cloud cover are expected later today, and that could allow temperatures to warm enough to create additional instability in the atmosphere.
Stronger Storms Possible Again This Afternoon And Evening
The Storm Prediction Center has placed northern parts of Central Kentucky under a Level 1 out of 5 severe weather risk later this afternoon and evening.
The combination of daytime heating, and some leftover shear from Tuesday’s system, and deep tropical moisture could allow a few stronger storms to redevelop later today.
The primary threat with any stronger storm will be damaging wind gusts, but torrential rainfall and small hail are also possible. While the severe weather threat is lower than what we saw Tuesday night, the flood threat continues to be the bigger concern for many communities.
Flood Watch Remains In Effect
A Flood Watch remains in effect for locations along and north of Interstate 64 and east of Interstate 65 through 2 AM Thursday Morning.
Many areas within the watch zone already picked up between 0,50 and 1.5 inches of rainfall Tuesday, and additional storms today could quickly produce another 1 to 2 inches of rain in localized spots.
Because the ground is already saturated due to multiple days and multiple inches of rainfall that has already fallen, it will not take much additional rainfall to create flash flooding issues, especially in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
Drier Air Finally Arrives Heading Into The Weekend
The good news is that we are finally expected to begin drying things out as we head toward the weekend.
Lingering showers may stick around into Thursday morning before gradually tapering off. By Friday and especially Saturday, a cold front will help push much of the deeper moisture south of the area.
This front is not expected to bring in significantly cooler temperatures, but it will bring in a much drier air mass. Humidity levels are expected to noticeably drop this weekend, making it feel much more comfortable outside compared to the muggy conditions we are dealing with now.
Afternoon highs through the weekend will generally stay in the 70s.
ABC 36 Storm Team 36 Hour Forecast
Wednesday Night
Scattered showers and storms gradually taper overnight with areas of fog possible by Thursday morning. Lows in the low to mid 60s.
Thursday
Lingering morning showers possible before skies gradually improve through the afternoon. Highs in the low to mid 70s.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy and less humid with patchy fog possible overnight. Lows in the upper 50s to low 60s.
