Quiet and cold weather hangs around to end the week

It was definitely a shock to the system stepping out on Thursday morning across Central and Eastern Kentucky as another blast of winter cold moved into the region behind a departing cold front. Temperatures started out in the upper teens and low 20s but with a brisk northwest wind in place, it felt more like the single digits early in the day. We did see a return of sunshine across the board but it didn’t do much to help warm us up as afternoon highs couldn’t even make it out of the 20s.

High pressure will build in from the west as we close out the week on Friday so a quiet weather pattern will set up for the next few days. It will be another winter-like morning Friday as temperatures dip down into the mid to upper teens to start the day. Winds should be lighter across the board but with temperatures that cold even a moderate breeze may knock “feel-like” temperature down into the single digits for a short period of time. It will be another sunny day across the Bluegrass but afternoon highs will still be unseasonably cold even for early December with most locations sneaking back into the low 30s by the end of the day.

This first full weekend of December looks good overall as we finally see more moderate air move back into the Ohio Valley. Saturday looks to be sunny and cool with highs back into the low 40s so it should start to feel better outdoors as we break out of the winter cold. More of a southwest wind will kick in Sunday ahead of our next storm system so a significant jump in temperatures is expected with highs back into the low 50s to end the weekend. Clouds should increase late day with the potential for a shower or two out west but most locations will be dry.

Lots of Gulf moisture will stream northward into the region thanks to a wave of low pressure sliding in along with a cold front moving in from the west. It should be a wet Sunday night with widespread rain expected that will carry over into Monday. Some of the data shows a good solid 1″ plus totals on the table. The rain chances may carry over into Tuesday as another wave rides along the front to our east. Afternoon highs look to reach the mid to upper 50s to begin the week but some colder air will work back in by the mid-week with afternoon highs dropping back below average into the upper 30s and low 40s.

ABC 36 HOUR FORECAST
THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear, another cold night. Lows in the mid-teens.
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny, still cold. Highs in the low-30s.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Fair skies, continued cold. Lows around 20 degrees.