Western Kentucky Faces Brief Cold Snap, Limited Rain Before Warmer Pattern Returns

Western Kentucky will trade unusually warm weather for chilly winds and freezing temperatures later this week, while a midweek cold front is expected to offer little drought relief.

National Weather Service meteorologist Rachel Trevino says temperatures will fall sharply after the front moves through Wednesday. A few thunderstorms are possible, and forecasters are watching whether enough moisture develops to support isolated severe weather in the Pennyrile Region Wednesday evening.

For now, Trevino says limited moisture is holding down both rainfall amounts and the storm threat.

Behind the front, northwest winds will make the colder air feel more uncomfortable. Sustained winds are expected to reach around 15 miles an hour Thursday and remain near 10 miles an hour Friday.

High temperatures Friday will reach only the mid-to-upper 40s. Wind chills late Thursday night into Friday morning are expected to fall into the mid-to-upper 20s across much of the region.

The coldest actual temperatures are forecast for Friday night into Saturday morning, when many locations will drop into the mid-to-upper 20s. Some areas may stay closer to 30 degrees.

She says the cold spell should be brief. Temperatures will begin recovering over the weekend, with highs returning to near or slightly above normal by Monday.

The larger concern remains the lack of rain. Trevino says much of the National Weather Service Paducah forecast area is experiencing moderate to severe drought, and this week’s rainfall is unlikely to change that.

Looking farther ahead, the eight- to 14-day outlook favors above-normal temperatures. Trevino says forecast models also show signs of a stronger weather system late next week that could bring a better chance of rain.

While western Kentucky has already experienced frost, weather officials say that alone offers little indication of the winter ahead. A fall frost reflects short-term weather conditions and doesn’t necessarily signal a colder or snowier winter.

Western Kentucky Faces Brief Cold Snap, Limited Rain Before Warmer Pattern Returns

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