Happy Oaks Day, everyone. Scattered showers and storms continue to develop across the state, but the focus is on what comes in later tonight into Derby Day.  Heavy rain and thunderstorms will target much of the state, and could even bring a local high water threat.

For more than a week now, we have talked about the potential for our front to slow down and allow a wave of low pressure to develop along it. That looks to be exactly what will happen, leading to very heavy rains developing.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect:

  • Scattered showers and storms continue this afternoon, but a line of storms may develop and move in during the evening.
  • The cold front slows down and stalls over top of the state later tonight, with the wave of low pressure developing and rolling on top of us.
  • Rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms move in from southwest to northeast from late tonight through Derby Day.
  • Churchill Downs will be on the western edge of the rain shield, but could still get in on some soggy stuff for a while.
  • The heaviest rains should target areas from south-central Kentucky into the central and eastern parts of the state.
  • That shows up well on the latest model rain forecasts…

GFS

NAM

CANADIAN

Another round of thunderstorms will follow that up by later Sunday, with cool air moving in for Monday. Rounds of strong storms appear to be a good bet later next week.

I will have the latest on the Derby Day heavy rain threat coming up on WKYT-TV starting at 4, with updates through the evening.

I leave you with your Oaks Day tracking tools…

Have a good one and take care.