Temperatures heat up late week but more fall-like air is on the horizon

Despite some stubborn mid to high level cloud cover again across the area again on Wednesday, it turned out to be a pretty nice day overall for early September across Central and Eastern Kentucky. Despite the scattered clouds we did see enough sunshine to help push afternoon highs back into the low and mid-80s in most locations. With a mid-level trough sliding through the region, humidity levels and dew point temperatures were up a bit so it felt a little more like late summer but nothing off the charts compared to last week and the record heat. One positive to the clouds has been some amazing sunrise and sunset shots across the commonwealth the last few days.

Skies should clear briefly into the early hours of Thursday allowing morning lows to once again dip down into the upper 50s and low 60s. We are looking at slowly warming temperatures for the late week as afternoon highs creep back into the mid and even upper 80s, which is a few degrees above average for this time of the year. We mat still see a few scattered clouds again Thursday but aren’t looking at any legitimate rain chances. Humidity levels should be manageable with a slight increase as a cold front makes a run for the Ohio Valley on Friday.

Speaking of that frontal system it should be the driving force behind greater shower and thunderstorm chances as we close out the week. It doesn’t appear we are looking at anything widespread and much of the activity should be later in the day as highs reach the upper 80s ahead of the front. Any storms that do develop will have the potential for some lightning strikes so we’ll have to watch out for that relative to high school football games on Friday evening.

Much cooler and fall-like air is set to settle into to the Ohio Valley beginning on Saturday so we are looking at yet another “sneak peek” for the fall season. Any leftover isolated showers should be confided to our eastern counties on Saturday morning as drier air and clearing skies take hold through the afternoon. Expect a major drop in temperatures as we go from upper 80s to mid-70s for highs between Friday and Saturday. This is great news for any outdoor activities including Kentucky’s SEC opener at Kroger Field on Saturday afternoon at 3:30pm (which you can see right here on ABC 36 if you can’t make it to the game). Conditions look fantastic considering it is an afternoon game the 2nd week of the season in September, when we would typically see afternoon highs in the upper 80s and even low 90s so the timing is ideal. At this point get set to enjoy both tailgating and the game itself with very comfortable temperatures and a bit of “football weather” on Saturday.

Looking ahead to the second half of the weekend and into early next week, temperatures should remain well below average initially. Early morning lows and Sunday and Monday will drop down into the mid to upper 40s so the jackets will come in handy early followed by afternoon highs in the low to mid-70s. It is early September so you know it will warm back up and the data is showing highs back in the mid-80s by the middle of next week.

ABC 36 HOUR FORECAST
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clearing skies, still pleasant. Lows in the upper-50s and low-60s.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny and heating up. Highs in the mid to upper-80s.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Clear skies and quiet. Lows in the low-60s.