Showers and cooler air on tap to close out the week

Our roller coaster ride of up and down temperatures is set to continue

1 hour ago

T.G. Shuck,

We saw a mixed bag of weather across Central and Eastern Kentucky Thursday with clouds and a cluster of thunderstorms across the northern half of the state during the morning hours followed by a summer-like afternoon with sunshine and strong southwest winds pushing temperatures into record territory. The combination of the sun and winds gusting over 30 miles per hour pushed afternoon highs into the low-80s, which topped record levels in many spots including Lexington. Big changes are on the way to close out the week as our up and down temperature pattern rolls along.

A cold front will drop through the commonwealth on Friday morning bringing a weakening line of showers and thunderstorms to the area. Given the timing of the system and its early morning arrival, strong storms well to our north late Thursday should weaken significantly by the time they move southward so we aren’t looking at any severe weather threat from this front. It will be one of those days where our warmest temperatures will be just after midnight before the front moves through with steady temperatures through the day. Out the door on Friday morning look for temperatures in the upper 40s north and low 60s south but by the time we reach the late afternoon, most locations should be in the upper 40s and low 50s as a northwest wind pushes cooler air in. The showers will wind down by late afternoon and into the early evening down south as drier air works into the area.

With the growing season in full swing now and many things blooming out, you’ll need to protect those tender plants with a cold start to Saturday morning on tap for Central and Eastern Kentucky. Temperatures should drop into the upper 20s and low 30s so widespread frost is expected and a Freeze Watch is already around for much of the area for Saturday morning so keep that in mind. Cool high pressure will settle into the Ohio Valley with lots of sunshine and blue skies the rest of Saturday as afternoon highs reach the low-50s. Overall it should be a pleasant day for outdoor activities. Things should stay tranquil and be even better on Sunday as high pressure moves off to our east, allowing for a return flow and milder air to filter back in. With more sunshine and a few scattered clouds, look for a big jump in temperatures with afternoon highs back in the mid-60s.

Heading into the final few days of March, we’ll climb the ladder again with temperatures as afternoon highs climb back into the low to mid-70s. A frontal boundary will be stalled out well to our north as a return flow and a southwest wind bring some moisture back into the area. This will increase the potential of a few scattered showers and storms, mainly during the warmth of the afternoon and early evening hours as a few waves of mid-level energy rotate through the Ohio Valley on the southside of the front. It won’t be a wash-out on any particular day at this point but you may have to dodge a few raindrops from time to time.