Good Thursday, everyone. A storm or two is going up across the region today, but this is a far cry to what’s ahead for the weekend. That’s when a potent storm system brings in the potential for severe storms, high winds and torrential rains.
A weak system rolls across the Tennessee Valley today, bringing the chance for a storm or two going up. This action is not widespread, but I can’t rule out a strong storm. I’ll have your Kentucky Weather Radars at the end of this post.
The overall setup for this weekend hasn’t really changed much at all and that’s a bit concerning.
Here’s the latest breakdown:
FRIDAY
- Temps surge into the 75-80 degree range under mostly sunny skies.
- Winds crank from the southwest with gusts reaching 30mph-40mph by late in the afternoon.
FRIDAY NIGHT
- Lines of strong to severe storms rumble into western Kentucky late Friday evening through the wee hours of Saturday.
- That line of storms then pushes eastward into central Kentucky by sunup Saturday
- The greatest threat for severe storms is across western and parts of central Kentucky.
- Damaging winds and a few tornadoes are possible in the west.
- With or without storms, wind gusts of 50mph or greater will be higher.
SATURDAY
- Our cold front moves into western Kentucky and slows down.
- Low pressure develops along this to our southwest and rides northeastward along it.
- This brings the potential for rounds of strong to severe storms to central and eastern Kentucky especially.
- Damaging winds are the main player with these storms but I can’t rule out isolated tornadoes.
- With or without storms, winds may gust to 50mph or greater at times.
- Significant wind damage is possible Saturday afternoon and evening.
- These storms may also be big rainmakers in streaks. Local flash flooding is a good bet.
The Storm Prediction Center continues to indicate a significant severe weather event late Friday into Friday night across western Kentucky. Here’s the latest Severe Weather Outlook during this time…
In terms of the individual threats, the SPC is showing the potential for a few tornadoes in the west…
The Damaging wind threat continues to lead the charge as the main potential…
The large hail threat in the west is also there…
That threat then focuses farther east across much of the rest of Kentucky for Saturday and Saturday evening. The Storm Prediction Center continues to grow more aggressive with this threat…
Some healthy percentages for severe weather show up around here…
I’ll have updates later today. Until then, here are your Kentucky Weather Radars to track isolated showers and storms through the region…
Enjoy the day and take care.
The thing abou this scenario that it’s going to happen overnight here in western ky. Don’t like that set up . Be safe everyone
The latest jet stream forecast for Saturday shows a strong flow over western Kentucky, which will tend to ampify severe activity. However, since the most intense activity on Saturday is focused on the deep south, it is possible that sufficient supercell development in that area may disrupt the flow of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico into our region. Local dewpoints hanging below 70°F would be a good indicator that this is happening.
BTW, don’t forget that there will be a total lunar eclipse this evening. Totality will occur at 1:30am CDT and 2:30am EDT Thursday morning.