Good Wednesday, folks. We’ve talked about the potential for clusters of storms to dive in here by the middle of the week and that time has arrived. Scattered storms today may give way to a damaging wind producing cluster of storms this evening into the overnight hours.
All of this mess is developing on the leading edge of hot air that tries to edge in here from the west. The hottest air will be across the south and west where temps will hit the low 90s. Central and eastern Kentucky’s temps will be a little cooler with upper 80s to an occasional 90.
Those numbers may be impacted by a few storms that fire up out there today. Those could be on the strong side with heavy rain and a lot of lightning.
The main action may arrive late this evening into tonight with a widespread damaging wind event across the Ohio Valley. Large hail and tornadoes will also be possible with this setup.
The showers and storms will taper off on Thursday as a cold front moves through here. That means cooler and drier air moving in for the end of the week.
For now… it’s all about the storms. Let’s do some tracking…
Today’s Risk Area
Current Watches
Possible Watch Areas
I will send out updates and warnings via twitter: Kentuckyweather or follow along in the twitter feed on the right side of the blog. I will also have updates on my Chris Bailey WKYT Facebook page.
Take care.
Thanks for the heads up my friend.
What is the derecho threat today? I just read an article that said the same areas hit last year may get hit by another one today. That 2012 event tore up some of our trees here in Bourbon County.
Yes, that’s true, a derecho is highly likely today. Slim chance it will get to us but not out of the question.
Wow, CB straight up said tornadoes. Be on the lookout everyone, it may get nasty with a likely “Derecho” going just north of us but not out of the question if it comes to us. Otherwise, stay safe.
Thanks, Chris. Looks like its going to be a busy weather day and evening across this state as well as others. Hope everyone will heed warnings and the discussion that is already taking place on how strong this system is, and will take the proper precautions. Sounds like you may need to sneak in a good nap this afternoon for you and MIcah both! Hope you don’t have much to warn about, but we have been so fortunate this spring that we are due for some tough stuff, I’m afraid.
Everyone have a great Wednesday and stay safe! Chris, we will be keeping a close eye on the blog, and Twitter today! Thanks fo all you do to help keep us ahead of the weather.
I was in Virginia last year when the derecho hit. It was a mess.
My friend’s sister in Ohio was without power for almost a full month after the derecho.
Here in Bourbon County, I was semi-excited because it looked like a thunderstorm was heading our way. It was in the midst of the drought and we needed rain very badly. The sky to the north was black. Unfortunately, it was only dirt, leaves and debris! It was like a sandstorm and the wind did quite a bit of damage. Not one drop of rain.
No derechos!!!
Already 87 in Frankfort with a heat index of 96, ouch!!
Looks like it may get really ugly to our north. Starts as supercells with big tornadoes in Illinois, including Chicago metro. Then transitions to a derecho. 64 million people in the potential path.
They can have that, wind damage could be bad in northern KY with all the heavy tree foilage if strong winds come in tonight?
Temp up to 90 with a heat index of 100 in east Frankfort, lots of fuel if storms develope!
Upgraded to high risk in Northern Illinois and Indiana.
High risk of Tornados ?
The SPC’s so-called “Categorical” outlook (combining risks of tornadoes, damaging straight-line winds, large hail) currently has a high risk declaration, something only rarely issued by the Storm Prediction Center.
Specifically regarding twisters, northern Illinois has some risk of stronger tornadoes, enough for a PDS Tornado Watch (Particularly Dangerous Situation) to be issued. As I type, the first tornado warnings have come out for the area.
As this system moves east-southeast, it will evolve more into a bad derecho, thus there is now a PDS Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect for northern Indiana/Ohio.
Dumb question:
So the complete overcast right now in the areas expecting severe weather doesn’t matter? Does this system not need breaks in the sun to create instability?
Actually a good question. Clearing often does provide an additional catalyst for instability and thus storms. But some systems have so much of their own instability, they don’t need sunshine. A few notable F4/F5 tornadoes have occurred in the hours just before sunrise, such as the 1984 Barneveld, Wisconsin outbreak (incidentally, the year I was born).
Why aren’t the twitter feeds showing up on my page? They were always there until a day or two ago. Figure if the weather is going to get bad, then I need those updates!
Not showing up on mine also!
You can check the twitter here: http://twitter.com/Kentuckyweather
Thanks
I was complaining abt that to my husband earlier, I thought maybe it was just my computer!
Heat index 103 in east Frankfort, wow
Just hope I can get poolside for an hour or two before it hits!
Stay safe folks
alright Chris, time to fess up. does it drive you absolutely batty when you put out a map with watches and warnings on FB and someone says, what about such and such county. cause it makes me want to reach threw the screen and shake them.
Look at the maps it looks like it is to the north. Is the storms later tonight than expected? Kentucky looks pretty clear- for now, anyway.
Are the storms… OCD on the grammar thing.
Storms are well North will stay north of 64 tonight.