Good Friday, everyone. Today is a very busy weather day across Kentucky and surrounding areas as severe weather targets us. Rounds of severe storms will rumble across the region, bringing the potential for widespread wind damage and a few strong tornadoes.
Here’s an update on how the day may play out:
- One round of severe storms may be ongoing across the state early today.
- As this moves away, instability increases as the sun returns. Temps hit the low 80s in many areas during the late morning and early afternoon hours.
- Waves of severe storms develop across western Kentucky this afternoon.
- These storms then roll eastward across the rest of the state from late this afternoon through the wee hours of Saturday morning.
- The potential for wind damage is VERY high with these storms. Hurricane force wind gusts may show up in some areas.
- These storms may also spin up a few tornadoes, especially in central and western Kentucky. That’s where a few strong tornadoes are possible.
- Large hail may exceed golf ball sized in some cases.
- The potential for torrential rains to cause flash flooding is also increased.
The Storm Prediction Center continues to show the bullseye of severe weather right on top of Kentucky with a Moderate Risk for many…
The threat for a few strong tornadoes continues to show up…
The Damaging Wind threat continues to be off the charts high…
Large hail is also likely…
Calm weather blows in behind this for Saturday and Sunday as things look really nice. That doesn’t last long as more in the way of strong to severe storms and heavy rains blow right back in from Sunday night through Wednesday…
Several inches of rain will fall from today through next Wednesday.
I will update things if needed later today and I’ll be on WKYT-TV for any severe weather coverage. As always, I leave you guys with your severe weather tracking tools…
Current watches
Possible Watch Areas
Make it a fantastic Friday and take care.
The first wave of storms has cleared the BG area, dropping 0.75 inches of rain. Skies are clearing to the west, which is very bad news for an already destabilized atmosphere. Two more waves to follow with 2 to 4 inch diameter hail, wind gusts over 75mph, and strong tornadoes. Uprooting of trees sitting in saturated ground is a real possibility.
Record-breaking heat in the Chicago area yesterday, as O’Hare hit 94 degrees, breaking the previous record for the day of 91 set way back in 1962. The NWS Forecast Office in the SW Suburbs was even hotter at 97 degrees. Scattered, fast-moving strong thunderstorms with large hail moved through the area in the early evening, prompting several Severe Thunderstorm Warnings.
It actually looks quiet across KY now with the line of storms about to exit the state. Hopefully there won’t be any widespread damage for you guys with the expected severe weather outbreak later on, but like Joe said, the clearing skies will only serve to further destabilize the atmosphere.