Good Thursday, everyone. Clouds are increasing today as a major storm system gathers steam and rolls our way over the next few days. This will be a high impact weather maker for Kentucky and surrounding areas. We have everything from high winds and strong storms, to the likelihood of record high temps on Saturday.
Clouds are rolling into the region today as any shower or thunderstorm likely stays to our west until late this evening. Winds are gusty and could approach 40mph at times this afternoon and evening. Where do we go from here? I’m glad I asked that…
FRIDAY
Areas of showers and thunderstorms will impact areas of western and central Kentucky. Local high water issues will be possible in the west. Some storms may also be on the strong side. Farther east, it’s mainly dry with temps deep into the 60s. Winds may gust to 40mph area wide.
SATURDAY
Heavy rain and strong storms become widespread across the west early on. This action rolls eastward through the day and into the evening. Flooding is possible across areas of the west, with a flash flood risk accompanying the storms across the entire state. Some of these storms may be strong or even severe. Wind gusts of 50mph or greater appear likely and this may cause some damage. Record high temps may reach 70-75 in some areas of the central and east.
Check out those wind gusts on Saturday…
EURO
NAM
The Storm Prediction Center has a low-end risk for severe storms across western Kentucky on Friday….
That threat area focuses farther east for Saturday…
I will have updates later today, so check back. Until then, make it a good one and take care.
During this period in history back in 2011, parts of the south were getting major league snows. In some cases, areas along the Tennessee-Alabama line received a whopping 18 inches of snow, including thundersnow events that dropped about four inches in one hour. Huntsville measured about nine inches, Atlanta was effectively shut down. Nashville received a modest three inches. I think far southern/southeastern KY got some accumulation (someone like Terry can support/refute?). I was in Bowling Green at the time where we at most may have received a few renegade flakes (I had beforehand been living in Evansville IN where I experienced the 2009 ice storm).
Yeah, I think far SE KY had about an inch up to two but it quickly increased the farther south into TN you went with that one as I was barely on the most northern edge of the snow shield.
What a nice wet and mild spring we’re having so far.
Not quite your 80 and sunny but getting closer Saturday, especially if a break in clouds before the front….75ish.
I’ll take it. 70’s on Saturday can’t beat that for January.
amen!
No kidding Prelude. Winter coming in June?
As long as Alabama and Mississippi are seeing the biggest threats for severe storms, I just don’t see Kentucky having any.
CB believes non-thunderstorm winds of 50-60 mph. If I’m not mistaken, that could mean high wind watch/warning criteria.
I hope I don’t lose my electric this weekend.
Finally, some exciting weather to monitor here in the Chicago area for the weekend… heavy rain, followed by a potential snowstorm!
A flood watch has been issued for much of the Chicago Metro area from Friday night through Saturday afternoon, with heavy rains of 2 to 4 inches expected during that time.
Late Saturday is when things get really interesting, as the heavy rain is gradually going to change to an icy mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain in the afternoon to heavy snow at night, when significant accumulations are possible.
Of course, there are still major questions as to where exactly the heaviest snow is going to fall, and the track of the low. In the SW Chicago suburbs where I am, they are forecasting a significant impact from this, with the greatest impact in the far W and NW Chicago suburbs.
So much will depend on the track of the low, but it’s likely the first Winter Storm Watch of the season for the Chicago area will be issued by the weekend.
We’ll be impacted by the strong winds this weekend also, like you guys in Kentucky/Tennessee.
On a side note, we had a string of 19 consecutive days above normal snapped on Wednesday, when the high and low temps were 29/14.
On 13 of those 19 days, temps averaged at least 10 degrees above normal, and the high temp was at least 40 degrees on 16 of those 19 days.
It was a bit colder than I was led to believe this morning…low of 24 at my place in Valley Station, coldest reading of the decade.
AO+, PNA- still rules the winter so far. I have noticed the number of GEFS members has slightly increased in favor of an AO- in about 2 weeks. What is that? About 25 percent chance?
Might need to see an updated forecast map for the 17-19th time frame again. Euro model, perhaps?
Yesterday the talk was 50pmh Friday and 60mph Saturday. Seems it is downgraded some.
Not seeing how we get that warm this time of year without some form of nasty displacement taking place.