Weather Impact Day: Round of strong-to-severe storms likely Friday

Damaging wind gusts will be the primary severe weather threat Friday

May 2, 2025

Dillon Gaudet,

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – It’s an ABC 36 Storm Team Weather Impact Day for Friday, as we’re tracking the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms later in the day across central and eastern Kentucky. While it won’t be a total washout, the risk for damaging wind gusts along a fast-moving line of storms has prompted the Storm Prediction Center to upgrade most of our region to a Level 3 out of 5 (Enhanced) Severe Risk. Let’s walk through the details…

What to Expect Today (Friday)

A good chunk of the day will be dry and muggy, with temperatures surging into the upper 70s to low 80s. That warm and humid air will provide the fuel for storms to fire late this afternoon and evening.

Timing:

Main line of storms: Between 5 PM and 10 PM
Scattered activity possible ahead of that—especially after about 3 or 4 PM

Severe Threats:

Damaging wind gusts are the primary concern (especially with the main squall line)
Isolated large hail
Low-end spin-up tornado threat
Heavy rain leading to some localized flooding in poor drainage areas

If clouds hang around, that might limit storm strength a bit, but ingredients are in place for a fast-moving bow echo type storm line, which would enhance the damaging wind potential. Winds from these storms could easily exceed 50–60 mph in spots.

Heading to the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs today? Be prepared for that line of storms, especially later in the afternoon into early evening.

Lingering Showers Tonight

As the storms move off to the east, we’ll be left with just isolated showers overnight. Lows drop into the mid to upper 50s. The severe weather risk exits by midnight.

Kentucky Derby Day – Saturday

The first half of Saturday looks wet and stormy again—though this round doesn’t look quite as volatile.

A Level 1 out of 5 (Marginal) Severe Risk is in place for all of central and eastern Kentucky. The better chance for a few stronger storms will actually be in our area, thanks to the location of a surface low that will likely track over western/central Kentucky. That puts us on the east side of the low, which is the favorable zone for some gusty storms, isolated hail, and downpours.

Rain should taper off some closer to post time for the Kentucky Derby, but muddy infield conditions are likely if you’re attending. Temperatures Saturday will only reach the low-to-mid 60s—a big drop from today.

Sunday & Monday – Staying Cool and Unsettled

That upper-level low we’ve been talking about all week will still be hanging around. That means more clouds, off-and-on showers, and below-average temperatures:

Sunday highs: Only in the mid-to-upper 50s, with scattered showers likely
Monday: Still a bit unsettled, but coverage of showers should begin to decrease

Turning the Corner Tuesday

We finally start to dry out by Tuesday, and I’ve gone ahead and made it a “Go Day” in the ABC 36 Storm Team forecast. Expect partly sunny skies and milder temps returning—great news if you’ve got outdoor plans. Highs rebound into the upper 60s to low 70s.

Stay with the ABC 36 Storm Team for continuing updates on today’s severe weather threat. Make sure you have ways to receive warnings and keep a close eye on radar later today.