Round of strong-to-severe storms Monday ahead of a dry mid-week
The strongest storms are expected to move in during the afternoon and early evening mainly south and east of Lexington
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – After a quiet start to the day, we’re tracking a round of potentially strong to severe thunderstorms later this afternoon into early evening. The Storm Prediction Center has placed much of central and eastern Kentucky in a Level 1 or Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe storms. The greatest risk for damaging winds will be south and east of Lexington, including areas like London, Somerset, Hazard, and Morehead. Those areas fall under a Level 2 Slight Risk, while Lexington and points north and west, including Frankfort, Georgetown, and Danville, remain in a Level 1 Marginal Risk.
Storm chances increase as we move through the midday hours, but the greatest threat for stronger storms comes during the afternoon and early evening, roughly between 2 PM and 8 PM. These storms could bring gusty winds up to 60 mph, heavy downpours, frequent lightning, and perhaps some small hail in the most intense cells. The tornado threat remains very low, but a quick half inch to 1″+ of rainfall is possible under the strongest storms. If you’re in an area that’s already seen recent rain, ponding on roads and localized flooding in low-lying areas could be a concern.
Storms will quickly push east of the region by mid-evening, setting us up for a refreshing and quiet stretch of weather for the middle of the week.
Looking Ahead: A Beautiful Midweek, Then Storms Return
Behind tonight’s cold front, Tuesday through Thursday looks absolutely beautiful for early June. Temperatures will stay on the mild side Tuesday, with highs in the mid-to-upper 70s and lower humidity. Tuesday night will be crisp, with overnight lows falling into the low-to-mid 50s, especially in the valleys.
Wednesday and Thursday bring increasing sunshine and warmth, with highs rebounding into the low 80s Wednesday and mid-80s Thursday. Humidity will gradually creep back up as we head toward the end of the week.
Unfortunately, the pattern turns unsettled again late Friday through the weekend, as another system moves into the region. Expect higher humidity and several rounds of showers and thunderstorms—though it’s too early to say whether these storms will be strong. At this time, heavy rainfall looks like the biggest potential issue heading into the weekend.
