Strong to severe storms possible into Wednesday

It was a stormy start to Tuesday across parts of Central and Eastern Kentucky with some heavy rain, thunder and that will be a prelude of things to come heading into early Wednesday. The much advertised strong cold front will move through the Ohio Valley during the early hours of Wednesday bringing to the potential of strong to severe storms.

The most favorable area for this will be just to the north and west of Lexington…with the region along and either side of the Ohio River in the cross hairs for the worst of the weather. The Storm Prediction Center has a Level 3 risk (out of 5) for a few of our northern and western counties tapered down to a Level 2 risk stretching through Lexington down to a Level 1 risk southward toward London and Jackson. There is an extremely tight gradient on the risk area from northwest to southeast with just a few miles separating these locations.

All modes of severe weather are on the table, especially in the Level 3 area with damaging winds being the primary threats. Remember just because you are not in the highest risk level doesn’t mean severe weather isn’t possible in your area considering any slight adjustment eastward would have a big impact so keep that in mind. Below are the various risk maps.

It’s been awhile since we’ve had any legitimate severe weather potential in our area so it’s a good time to review your severe weather safety plan. More importantly make sure and have a way to be woken up in the event of a warning…preferably by a cellphone alert or a NOAA weather radio. At this point the timing looks to be between about 3am and 9 am depending on location with a few waves of strong thunderstorms possible…even into Eastern Kentucky where the threat will be diminished somewhat into Wednesday morning.

Once the front clears the severe weather threat will end, but then it will be a quick change back to winter as temperatures crash into the upper 30s and low 40s by Wednesday afternoon! Add a brisk west wind into the mix and our “feel-like” temperatures could be down into the 20s at times! Speaking of the wind…gusts could be 35 to 40 plus miles per hour into Wednesday afternoon so a Wind Advisory is out for much of the area until late Wednesday.

Expect a cooler finish to February on “Leap Day” Thursday with a southern system bringing more showers to the area to kick off March on Friday. There is good news for the weekend as yet another nice warm-up is in store as afternoon highs make a run toward the 70 degree mark by Sunday! Stay with the ABC36 Storm Team for the latest updates!

ABC 36 HOUR FORECAST
TUESDAY NIGHT: Windy with rain and storms, some severe possible. Lows in the low-60s.
WEDNESDAY: Strong storms early then crashing temperatures!. Temperatures in the the low 60s early falling into the upper 30s and low 40s.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear, breezy and cold. Lows in the mid-20s.