Good Friday to one and all. We have a powerful cold front slowly working across the state today, bringing the low-end risk for severe storms. This front also unleashes a much colder setup for the weekend and this below normal setup is locking in for a spell.
Today’s weather is rather complicated as we will have a major difference from west to east. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Heavy rain and storms are across the west to start the day. A few strong storms may put down enough rain for some local issues.
- This line of storms weakens as it moves toward central Kentucky this afternoon.
- Temps across the west stay in the 50s through most of the day.
- Farther east, temps are MUCH warmer with upper 70s and low 80s with mostly sunny skies.
- The line of storms looks to refire across central Kentucky this evening and may fire up a few strong storms as it moves into the east into tonight.
This is where the Storm Prediction Center has a low-end risk for severe weather…
Morning showers will move away from eastern Kentucky with just the threat for a scattered shower or storm going up during the afternoon and early evening. Watch those fire up on the Hi Res NAM Future Radar…
Some small hail will be possible with those storms going up.
It’s a windy and colder day as temps range from the middle 50s to low 60s with periods of sun. This sets the stage for a frost and light freeze by Sunday morning as temps reach the upper 20s to low 30s…
After a chilly, but partly sunny Sunday, we do that again Sunday night and Monday morning.
The setup for next week will feature a another storm system or two threatening the region from the southwest, but the cold air is trying to flex and keep the bulk of the storm track to our south. Any air mass in the spring that can push a storm track across the south is likely a cold one and that’s exactly what the models are showing.
Look at the final 7 days of the month…
That’s the average temp departure for that 7 day period. Normal highs for this time are in the low and middle 70s, for instance.
The Ensembles are also on board with the cold…
The below normal numbers are still there for the first 5 days of May…
That argues for a colder than normal Kentucky Derby week here in the Bluegrass State.
I will have another update late today, if needed. As always, I have you all set to track today’s storms…
Current watches
Possible Watch Areas
Make it a great Friday and take care.
Today was a beautiful no cloud in the sky day with middle 80s for temperatures. People that came in for the big festival of Hillbilly days could not complain. Although I love the food and it’s goes to a good cause I just don’t fight the crowds anymore. Seems like it does get bigger each year.
Crystal. Have you ever heard of The Mountain Laurel Festival that occurs each Spring in Pikeville ? When I was in Murray, Kentucky going to college in 1971 everyone was talking about who would be the Mountain Laurel Queen. I don’t know if the festival is held anymore ???
Just remember the ‘ Mountain Laurel Festival ‘ was held in Pineville, Kentucky by various Universities across the State of Kentucky.
Yes I have heard of that. They could not have a better 2 days here but I think rain is headed our way for either late tonight or tomorrow. For the last day of it. Chris should come be in the parade tomorrow I would fight the crowds for that lol
I’m not sold on the early May cold just yet.
The Ensembles have been showing below normal temperatures for sometime now. We may have that Spring Frost / Freeze Sunday morning and Monday morning ? It’s happened before in my many years growing Azaleas in Southern Indiana. Lost all my Azalea blossoms in the Nursery those years.
I see where the ‘ Southeast Ridge ‘ is going to diminish the much needed rains again. Western Kentucky has the best chance. Their on the edge of the Ridge. This pattern will continue until the PDO turns positive. If El Nino forms completely in the Tropical Pacific this may change our weather pattern for the better.
Rain is falling steady here in my neck of woods, no winds or storms has occur. just good ole steady rain that we needed. have a great day!
Breezy and partly Sunny here in Maple. I don’t expect that much needed rain now. I think it’s a continuation of the same.
I’ve already had to deploy sprinklers, which is not a good portent for the upcoming Summer.
Yeah, if you want to keep your lawn water water water. I’ve given up on the plants and the lawn. Let Mother Nature take over. Can’t grow the plants I enjoy here anyway. Besides water here is expensive.
BTW, only one out of my four azalea plants survived the hard freeze. we also lost four other shrubs, and looking around the neighborhood shows that we’re not alone.
Here is the link for the summary (and photos) of the severe weather that took place across Northern IL and the Chicago Metro Area late Wednesday afternoon and again late Thursday afternoon, which brought a combination of large hail and damaging winds to the area.
In my area of the SW Suburbs, we received the severe weather on Wednesday with pea-sized hail, gusty winds and heavy rain, but missed it on Thursday as the storm clusters moved to the north and south of my area.
https://weather.gov/lot/2023_04_20_Severe
Here is a fascinating {and terrifying!} video of the EF-3 tornado that hit Cole, Oklahoma yesterday, and which was captured by Dr. Reed Timmer. The multiple vortex and horizontal vortex shots were amazing!
https://youtu.be/c7BzEkf_S2M