Rain chances ramp up after a nice Memorial Day

It was a beautiful Memorial Day across Central and Eastern Kentucky as we took time to remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Sunshine ruled the day and made for perfect conditions for cookouts, parades, and other outdoor events. The only minor hiccup was a gusty breeze out of the east-northeast, with occasional gusts between 20 and 25 mph. Otherwise, the day featured highs in the low 70s—comfortable and just slightly below average for late May.

Soaking Rain Returns Tuesday 

Unfortunately, if you were hoping for more sunshine to carry into the short work week, Tuesday will bring a quick end to the dry streak. A stalled frontal boundary to our south will lift northward as a warm front, helped along by an area of low pressure moving into the region. The result? A soggy Tuesday across much of Kentucky. Rain will develop overnight and continue off and on through the day, along with the chance for a few embedded thunderstorms. Some of the rainfall could be heavy at times, especially across southern Kentucky, where totals may top 2 inches. While widespread flooding isn’t expected, localized minor flooding could develop in poor drainage spots or areas hit by persistent downpours.

Afternoon highs on Tuesday will be held in check by the clouds and rain, sticking close to the 70° mark once again.

Midweek Improvements, Then Unsettled Again by the Weekend

Rain chances won’t disappear completely on Wednesday, but the coverage will be less widespread as the system starts to move away. We’ll still see a few scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon, but there should also be breaks of sun allowing temps to rebound into the mid-70s.

Thursday looks to be the nicest day of the week. High pressure slides in briefly, bringing mostly sunny skies and continued mild temperatures in the mid-70s. That said, we can’t hang onto the dry weather for long.

As we head toward the weekend and into early June, a trough will dip into the eastern U.S., keeping the overall pattern somewhat unsettled. Waves of upper-level energy will spin through the Ohio Valley, leading to occasional shower chances Friday through Sunday. It’s not a washout, but there may be some pop-up showers or isolated storms around at times. Temps will stay a bit below normal, but trending upward into the upper 70s—so it’ll at least feel a little more like early summer even if the skies don’t always cooperate.