Severe storms on the table for all Central and Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday

After a summer like start to April on Monday across Central and Eastern Kentucky with highs in the upper 70s and a muggy feel to the air, the focus now shifts to a legitimate threat for severe weather including tornadoes on Tuesday. While a few strong to severe storms will be possible along the I-64 corridor early Tuesday, the 2 main waves of storms look to have the biggest potential of producing severe storms. Below is a quick timeline:

The Storm Prediction Center has all of Central and Eastern Kentucky under a Level 3 severe weather risk (out of 5) on Tuesday. All modes of severe weather are possible, including an elevated tornado potential compared to most of our severe weather events. Looking at the individual threats, damaging winds in excess of 70 to 75 miles per hour will be possible and the tornado risk potential is in the 10% range (usually it is lower at 2% to 5%) with the “hatched area” seeing a slightly elevated chance of a strong tornado within that area…which basically includes the entire viewing area.

Tomorrow is a day to be diligent and have your severe weather safety plan in place, especially given that we are entering the heart of severe weather season here in the Ohio Valley. Know the difference between a watch and a warning, have a way to be alerted and know where to go if a warning is issued.

One of the keys to the storms firing Tuesday afternoon will be sunshine. The more sunshine we get, the better chance storms will fire. In this type of set-up these have a tendency to be supercell which can produce tornadoes so tomorrow is not a day we want to see sunshine so any cloud cover will play a big role in how this event materializes. Right now the latest data is showing a few storms during the early morning hours north, then individual storms firing late afternoon followed by the main squall line coming through later in the evening before the severe threat ends. With heavy rain possible repeatedly over a few areas, a Flood Watch is out for Central and Northern Kentucky until late Tuesday.

We’ll go from spring to winter into the mid-week as much colder air filters in behind the departing system. Highs will struggle through the 40s with showers on Wednesday and we could even see a few snow showers Thursday morning as temperatures drop into the 30s! Impacts shouldn’t be an issue given the warm ground temperatures but Thursday looks to be a breezy, chilly and raw day before we slowly moderate temperatures by the upcoming weekend. Stay with ABC 36 Weather for the latest.

ABC 36 HOUR FORECAST
MONDAY NIGHT: Breezy with rain and storms, especially late. Lows in the low 60s.
TUESDAY: Windy with occasional storms, some severe. Highs in the mid-70s.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Breezy and colder with scattered showers. Lows in the low-40s.