Not as warm Thursday ahead of another round of rain and a few storms
Meteorologist Dillon Gaudet has the latest in your full ABC 36 Storm Team forecast
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – A change in the pattern is underway after a mild stretch, with colder air beginning to filter in behind a cold front sweeping through Kentucky. Thursday will feel significantly different from Wednesday, with temperatures dropping 10-20 degrees compared to the previous day. Despite the cooldown, temperatures will still be slightly above average for late February, but it will feel noticeably cooler after the warmth we’ve enjoyed.
Thursday: Showers Exit, Another Round Returns Late
The morning hours will start off with lingering showers pushing eastward as the initial cold front clears the region. Behind this, temperatures will struggle to climb beyond the mid to upper 50s for much of central and eastern Kentucky, with southern parts of the state potentially touching 60 degrees.
A second round of showers—and even a few thundershowers—will develop later in the afternoon and early evening. The best window for this activity will be between 3 PM and 9 PM, moving from northeast to southeast. Some of these storms may produce small hail and gusty winds, especially across northeastern parts of the region where instability will be slightly higher. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph at times during the day.
Friday: Breezy and Mild Before a Weekend Cooldown
Friday morning will start off chilly, with lows dipping into the low 30s. However, a strong southwesterly breeze will take hold, allowing temperatures to rebound into the upper 50s and low 60s by the afternoon. Wind gusts could reach 30-40 mph, especially north of I-64, as a clipper system moves through the Great Lakes. If confidence increases in stronger gusts, a Wind Advisory may be needed.
Weekend Chill: Coldest Air Arrives Sunday
The colder air truly settles in over the weekend. Saturday will see highs in the mid to upper 40s in the Bluegrass and low 50s further southeast, but another cold front will reinforce the chill heading into Sunday. By Sunday morning, temperatures will plummet into the 20s, and afternoon highs will struggle to reach the upper 30s across much of the region. This will feel much more like mid-winter, especially with a brisk northwest wind keeping wind chills in the 20s.
Looking Ahead: A Stronger System by Midweek
As temperatures moderate early next week, attention turns to a more potent storm system arriving around Tuesday night into Wednesday. This system could bring widespread rain, gusty winds, and even severe thunderstorms as a strong low-pressure system lifts through the region. It’s too early to pinpoint severe weather threats, but this will be something to monitor as it develops. Another temperature swing is likely, with a brief warm-up ahead of the system followed by another cooldown.
Stay with the ABC 36 Storm Team for more updates.
