Good Thursday, folks. A cold front is moving through the state and it’s bringing scattered showers and storms. This isn’t a lot, but it’s certainly better than nothing. After this front goes through, our focus then turns toward the possibility of record or near record highs to close the month and kick off October.
As usual, we start with what’s going on today. Isolated showers and storms are pushing across the Commonwealth, with the greatest risk in the south and early today. This won’t be a lot of rain and many areas may be skipped, but we will take what we can get. Here are your radars…
Temps today will be back into the 70s with a quick drop into the upper 50s by late this evening. That should set the stage for a fairly wild temp ride for Friday. The day may start with upper 40s and low 50s for some, with the mid and upper 80s pushing back in during the afternoon. 90 is possible across the west. I can’t rule out a couple of thunderstorms. This kicks off a very hot and humid weekend that will feature temps in the low 90s, but a few showers and storms can fire up…
This steamy air continues into the first few days of October and could break records in some cities. By the end of next week, a fairly strong cold front is going to make a run at us and that could flip the pattern in a hurry…
That should bring a fall chill in here for the first weekend of October. Yes, please!
The tropics continue to feature a couple of storms with Lorenzo well out in the Atlantic and Karen struggling mightily…
The track on Karen continues to show a weakening trend as it meanders well east of the Bahamas…
The quicker we can get this storm to weaken, the better the chance for a nice fall cold front in about a week.
Until then, record heat is once again a good bet for much of the bluegrass state.
Have a great Thursday and take care.
Record heat—-and not to be forgotten—-a potentially record dry stretch. Don’t forget the record of consecutive days Lexington has gone without seeing measurable precipitation. How many are we at now?
Also just wanted to add–there is the potential some portions of the state go into severe drought category. This will likely be in very small areas, but may be there nonetheless.
Today is day 29 for Lexington. Tomorrow will tie for the 2nd longest. Longest is 37 days. Probably a good chance that Lexington breaks it.
As expected, some portions of the state are now in a severe drought. This is, even by Palmer standards, an official drought for some areas. It simply cannot be denied any longer.
I don’t ever remember the tropics having this kind of impact on our pattern. I mean, I guess maybe it has I’ve just never paid attention……What exactly happens with tropical systems in the Atlantic that brings our weather to a halt, and why doesn’t it happen with non-tropical storms in the Atlantic?
MarkLex, It happens with Nor’ Easters going up the east coast with a blizzard or a very widespread snow event. Our weather when that happens is on the backside with cold dry air in place. The North Atlantic Oscillation has to be in the negative phase for all this to take place along with a weak La nina to bring Alberta Clippers southeast to phase with a surface low off the southeast coast. Clear as mud right ?
I wouldn’t know how to interpret Chris’ explanation about tropical systems halting our weather. We go through this every September, tropical systems in the Atlantic, but perhaps they have some correlating effect. After all September and October are typically our driest months.
But, I do know the Bermuda High aka Southeast Ridge is a permanent feature in the Atlantic. The position and strength of this feature can steer, deflect, squash, and keep weather systems in a holding pattern, and this includes tropical systems.
At this moment there is no rain falling in the whole state.
Between 6:30 and 7am i got .025 inches of rain
I don’t know if the air we have over are area is sucking the life out of these fronts or what, but here in Southern Ohio we were supposed to get a quarter of a inch. I think they meant enough to wet a quarter. LOL.
A 29% chance of less than 0.01 of an inch of rain today. I will enjoy the wait and watching those rain clouds gather. Not really complaining as I listened to a meteorologist this morning and he said that the current weather covering the US is not unusual but normal referring to the Atlantic hurricane season. Don’t get depress Winter Lovers and I’m one of them we have to look forward to the very cold if not frigid snowy Winter that may last well into our Spring months 2020. Dust off your snow shovels and get prepared.
My paragraph above is sarcasm.
Your brother hasn’t come for your computer yet?
You just broke the streak. Everyone else here has been talking about weather today What are you doing? If you got something to say about weather, say it. Otherwise stop har@$$ing others who want to talk weather.
Thank you Mike S.
Mike S and Winterlover don’t be hypocrites they’re are countless times on here Schroeder starts his stuff (non-weather related garbage) yet I don’t see you or Winterlover jumping all over Schroeder. Quite opposite you both look for some odd reason to defend Schroeder and his actions. I think you both have forgot that Schroeder’s actions have gotten under the skin of CB. CB made a rare comment once a while back directly to Schroeder just to reel Schroeder back into reality, and tell him to knock it off. I don’t see you two getting on CB for getting on Schroeder. Hmmmmm….. I wonder why that is???? To be honest I am literally shocked CB has tolerated his actions and not put his foot down with his nonsense. So if someone says something or voices there dislikes with Schroeder just remember he did this negativity all to himself. So he was behaved today big deal give it a day or two. He’s the only one for the most part on this blog by leaps and bounds that others lash out at. So what does that tell you where the problem lies? The stuff Schroeder has said (too many times to count) saying this that and the other and not following through with any of it. But that’s ok?? He’s disruptive and he’s been known to be completely disrespectful and can play the victim card. It amazes me to see how many fall and run to his defense. For some strange reason the Schroeder supporters will turn a blind eye to his insensitive comments and act like it never occurred (it’s ok buddy kind of attitude) but let another person who’s name is not Schroeder say the same thing and that person will get a ear fill by the Schroeder supporters. You ever notice when Schroeder doesn’t comment the blog runs as smooth as a sewing machine?
I couldn’t have said it any better Prelude. Schroeder is the only one that causes such issues on here. Like I said yesterday I haven’t commented on anything in months, but his antics lately are just too much. By the way has Schroeder’s attorney contacted you yet about his email haha? Oh yeah sorry that’s a very serious situation according to Schroeder.
Hopefully this will be our last heat wave for the year. I’m ready for some chill air to get rid of the flies and mosquitoes that has been worry some this summer. With all the cold air that is bottle up in Canada it’s matter of time we get the share of it. Have a good day!
A lot of very complex weather factors have to take place before that happens.
The heats imapct is exacerbated though, due to the d r o u g h t.
At least drought spelled correctly
Latest drought monitor out. Looks major to me as it is covering more real estate : https://weatherstreet.com/drought-map-us.htm
Well I’m off to watering my garden again…From my rain barrel ( it collected enough to reach full capacity on the 20th of this month)
Looks like places down in Paducah area got the rain. Miss my neck of woods here in northern western ky.
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY EVENING
THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON…
* WHAT…Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 16 to 25
inches possible. Gusty winds to 40 mph will cause low
visibility.
I still don’t get CB’s aversion to drought discussion. If it’s rain he talks about floods, and if snow about slick roads, etc. Seems odd.
I think all of us who read his blog would like to know the answer to that. If it was January with record cold and snow you can be sure he would be discussing the pattern in depth. September is set to shatter all kinds of heat and dry weather records in the state, yet CB has yet to really discuss the pattern in depth that has led to this historic month, for example why is this ridge so strong? What global factors and indices are leading to this pattern? To us readers, it’s frustrating. But again, it’s his blog and he can discuss whatever he wants.
Agreed on the blog. Droughts though impact more things directly and indirectly than any other weather event, so makes it stick out more.
BubbaG I had to look up that word aversion. Did not know what it meant. Back when I graduated from high school in 1968 they never went that far with your education. Lol.
That was the nicest word I could think of and not be rude about it.
Someone mentioned a drought last month I believe and it was met with consternation. Louisville has been in a drought for quite some time now. My foundation knows what a drought is and I have to have my piers adjusted. My garage floor collapsed two weeks ago so I don’t need a meteorologist to tell me when it’s too dry.
One could argue Louisville’s drought began in July. Only one inch of rain fell officially at the airport in July which was well below normal, although other parts of the city received more. August saw slightly below normal precip, but thanks to a late August rain event, briefly alleviated the dryness. For the past 3 months, Louisville has received almost 6 inches less than normal rainfall while experiencing well above normal heat. The perfect recipe for drought. The only saving grace from this drought being even more severe is the fact the first half of the year and last year were very wet.
Wasn’t it last year Lexington had it’s all-time wettest year ever? Or the year before? I can’t remember. I do know that the last few years have been above normal with zero droughts. This same scenario has probably played out multiple times in the past. I know Lexington is now had the driest stretch of days on record, but that’s at KLEX (which official records are now being kept). Much of record-keeping years ago was downtown, and not at KLEX (the airport) Someone would have to look at the record books to see the longest consecutive stretch of days with no precip in both locations to see if this is really a record dry stretch.
Last September was a record wet month for many locations in KY. And the year has a whole was record wet. In fact, I believe 5 of the last 10 Septembers have had above normal rainfall in KY, so one can argue we are due for a dry month. But this September is taking it to the extreme. No measurable rain or only a few hundredths almost statewide is very rare and worthy of being given great attention. Throw in the number of record high temperatures that have been set, and this September is probably the most extreme on record. Yeah, I know, some will say it’s just a matter of perspective, but records are records. They are fact, not perspective.
The drought is real. Even by a simple definition–a lack of something, anything really, over a stretch of time, can be considered a drought. Thirty days without rain is a drought, by and large–even if those impacts are minimal to crops, cattle, other wildlife, and humans. Unfortunately, this drought is starting to affect all of those things.
Really Prelude? Have you actually read what you just wrote? Why do I need to jump on anybody? Why do I need to jump on CB for not jumping on someone’s comments? Why do you need to jump on anybody? It’s CB’s house. He makes the rules. All because somebody does not play with the toys the same way you do, so what? Let him play. if the toy is not being played with correctly, why cry about it? Just ignore it. CB will take the toy away if he does not behave the right way. It’s not up to you to whine about how anyone plays, these are not even your toys. But I’m sure CB expects everyone to play nicely in his house. So play nice.
I do play nice always have except towards one person and he’s had more chances to “play nice” and show respect then one should be allowed to have. To get respect you gotta give and earn respect. Rather if it’s on a internet weather blog or real life. Schroeder doesn’t show respect therefore he gets none from me. If you don’t like what I have to say too bad I sugar coat nothing.