Good Sunday, folks. We have another active weather day taking shape across the bluegrass state, with a few rounds of strong to severe storms possible. These storms continue to be part of a busy setup, with more storms on the way in the week ahead.
Here’s an interesting stat for you, far western Kentucky had the a Severe Thunderstorm Watch on Saturday, the first severe weather watch for anywhere in Kentucky since April 13th. That’s absolutely amazing given we are in the heart of our severe weather season. It’s been super quiet, to say the least.
We may very well see another watch or two issued out there today. One cluster of storms may move in early today, with another possible late this afternoon into the evening. That’s the one that may bring the severe threat to our region. Here’s the latest from the Storm Prediction Center…
Damaging winds and large hail are the main players. These storms will be heavy rain makers and may cause additional high water issues.
Additional rounds of storms will be sweeping in here on Monday, potentially bringing another severe weather threat. Here’s the latest from the SPC…
More rounds of storms will likely hang tough through Tuesday, but a little break in the action is possible for a few days after that. Temps will continue to average well above normal, in what is likely to be one of the warmest Mays on record.
By later this week into Memorial Day weekend, a lot of what happens will likely be dictated by what happens in the tropics. Some early season development is possible around Florida or into the Gulf of Mexico. Take all models with a big grain of salt, but it’s fun to see how they handle any POSSIBLE system.
The Canadian takes it into the central Gulf and actually has some impact on our weather…
The relatively new ICON model doesn’t go out as far as the Canadian, but offers a similar look…
The GFS takes the initial system east of Florida then develops another system in the Gulf…
Again, it’s just interesting to watch model trends as we get closer to any potential development. Regardless of any tropical system, the setup is there for some unsettled holiday weekend weather around here.
Let’s get back to today’s weather. Here are your Sunday storm trackers…
I will have updates as needed. Make it a good one and take care.
Thanks Chris for the update. Whatever weather system is keeping the severe storms out of our area is fine by me. The humidity has been more noticeable than the above normal temperatures this entire month. I hope we will encounter a pattern change to cooler and drier for the rest of the summer, but that is not going to happen here in the good ole Ohio River Valley. Have a great Sunday everyone.
Interesting stats for Louisville and Lexington so far this month…
Despite Louisville’s Derby Deluge of over 3″, we are only a quarter inch above normal for the month. Lexington has had 5 consecutive days of rainfall nearing 3″ during that time. They now have over 5″ for the month.
A close statistic I’m following is Louisville has recorded zero heating degree days for the month of May so far. That is when the base average temperature is below 65 degrees. The only other time Louisville has recorded zero heating degree days for the month was 1896. Even the ‘hot’ year of 2012, Louisville had 10 heating degree days in May.
This weather pattern we are in is either feast or famine when it comes to rain nothing widespread. Unfortunately I’m falling on the side of the famine where others are doing quite well in the rain department.
PS the computer models have been nothing short of horrible for the past several weeks if not months.
Yes! What happened to the May cold that the GFS was showing in late April?
We should be close to a top 5 warmest May by month’s end!
Same at my house in Harlan Co. Barely hit the 2.00 inch mark month-to-date yesterday while part of my county saw more than 2 inches in just the past week. Location, Location, Location!
Regardless, I am still ahead on the year by a few inches thanks to February’s excessive rainfall. Who knows, we may still end up catching up at our locations later on as one t-storm can produce over an inch of rain easily this time of year.
The great hall of Famer baseball pitcher Greg Maddox couldn’t throw a 95 mph fastball to save his life. Yet he could paint the plate better than anyone and make most batters that faced him look incredibly stupid. It was all about location location location when Greg Maddox pitched. How this has to do with weather is beyond me except for the location part. lol
For those in more southern locations, beware of fire ants! Especially during flooding episodes as the entire nest can literally float on the water and survive to spread more havoc. After receiving painful stings, my folks near Cleveland TN have spent a small fortune this spring getting rid of these very nasty pests. Last I heard, fire ants were at least as far north as Simpson County KY and have been reported for years here in Nashville TN suburbs although my wife and I have been spared the invaders………so far.
For those to the north, enjoy the calm for as long as it lasts!
http://articles.extension.org/pages/9725/geographic-distribution-of-fire-ants
LOOK how far north widespread activity was as of last year! They are now active in Knoxville, so I don’t see it being too many more years before SE KY will have to deal with these pests!
Maybe the more recent harsher winters have slow the ants from moving more northward but still seem to be moving into KY!
Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect for areas including western parts of Kentucky and Tennessee. Damaging winds and large hail are the threats with the highest chances. The tornado threat is very low.
Perhaps widely localized high water issues.
As CB touched, severe wx watches have been few and far between so far this year.
Do you think this severe weather season will stay fairly dead since we started an early summer pattern? I was thinking we might have some June issues if the jet stream were to change in a few weeks but current signals are not there for any significant pattern change in the near future. This year may go down as one of the weakest severe weather years ever but still too early to say much yet!
Perhaps only an occasional spurt of severe wx/tornadoes for the next few weeks into next month. As you point out, the current overall pattern wants to stubbornly hold on.
As it is, both Kentucky and Tennessee are starting to see the waning of their average peak tornado threat periods (if not for other threats such as damaging t-storm winds, lightning). Neither state have recorded any tornadoes stronger than F4/EF4 from the very end of May to November. Indeed, both the B-l-u-e-g-r-a-s-s and Volunteer states have recorded zero tornado fatalities in any July. All this according to over a century of records.
As we know, the jet stream becomes both weaker and farther to our north as summer tightens its grip. This tends to lower the tornado threat here.
Hmm, perhaps a derecho this summer similar to late June of 2012??;)
some severe storms in indiana now.
these may dip southeast into northern ky.