Warm and windy Wednesday ahead of a big cooldown for the first day of Spring
Temperatures will fall from the 70s on Wednesday into the low 40s by Thursday afternoon
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – A classic spring setup unfolds across Kentucky today as warm and windy conditions give way to an approaching cold front, bringing a round of storms late tonight. This front will also send temperatures plummeting by Thursday, with a touch of wintry weather possible—just in time for the official start of spring at 5:01 a.m. Thursday morning.
Today: Windy Conditions and Warm Temperatures
It’ll be a warm and windy Wednesday, with highs climbing into the low-to-mid 70s across central and eastern Kentucky. Strong southerly winds will gust between 30 to 40 mph at times, with even higher gusts over 45 mph possible in parts of the region. Due to these winds, a Wind Advisory remains in effect through 11 PM tonight for areas along and west of I-75.
Along with the wind, wildfire concerns are elevated today, especially in southeastern Kentucky, where dry conditions and gusty winds will combine to create an increased fire risk. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged.
Tonight: Storms Arrive with a Low-End Severe Risk
A strong cold front will march through the region tonight, sparking showers and thunderstorms, especially from late evening into the overnight hours. The northwestern half of the ABC 36 viewing area is under a Level 1 (Marginal) Severe Risk, with the main concerns being damaging wind gusts, isolated large hail, and even a very low-end chance for a brief spin-up tornado. However, the highest severe threat remains west of Kentucky in parts of Illinois and Indiana.
Storms will likely enter central Kentucky after 8-9 PM, reach the I-75 corridor by midnight, and push eastward overnight. As they move east, they will gradually weaken due to decreasing instability.
Thursday: Cold Blast with Rain and Possible Snowflakes
In true Kentucky fashion, we’ll go from 70s today to highs struggling to reach the mid-40s on Thursday. A steady northwest wind will make it feel even colder, with wind chills in the 30s for much of the day. Scattered light rain showers will be around in the morning, and some snowflakes could mix in at times through the early afternoon. No accumulation is expected, but the timing is ironic, considering Thursday marks the first full day of spring!
Looking Ahead: Brief Rebound Before Another Rainmaker
After a frigid start in the upper 20s to near 30 Friday morning, temperatures will rebound to near 60° Friday afternoon under partly sunny skies. A weak system could bring some light rain showers late Friday night into early Saturday, but most of the day Saturday looks dry with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s.
The next stronger system arrives Sunday into Monday, bringing widespread rain and possibly a few thunderstorms. While severe weather isn’t expected at this time, we’ll monitor trends closely. Behind this system, temperatures will remain seasonable, with highs in the mid-to-upper 50s early next week.
Stay tuned to the ABC 36 Storm Team for the latest updates!
