Nice Start to the Week, Rain Possibly Mixed with Snow by Wednesday

Sunday’s rainfall has moved out of south-central Kentucky after the area received anywhere from 0.25 – 0.50 inches of rain.  This rainfall was due to an approaching storm system with a cold front which will not actually make it’s way through the Commonwealth until overnight tonight.  Until the passage of the front the chance lingers for a few showers and sprinkles; any lingering precipitation will be light.  By Monday the rainfall and clouds of Sunday will just be a memory as a surface high pressure will begin to work it’s way in.  The strong low pressure centered over the upper-Great Lakes however will be close enough to make it another windy day (though not as windy as Sunday) with winds from the west from 10-20 mph with gust 20 mph +. Other than the wind it will be a mostly sunny day with highs in the upper 50s to near 60.  Tuesday should be another nice day though slightly cooler thanks to more north-northwesterly winds from the lower levels of the atmosphere to the surface.  Clouds will also be moving in during the afternoon ahead of the next storm system.

An upper-level disturbance will eject from the four-corners region Tuesday and move toward our area.  Furthermore a surface low pressure system will try to develop in Texas and then move to the east and north.  This in turn brings a good chance of showers from Tuesday night through Wednesday.  The sub-tropical jet will bring ample Pacific moisture to the area but the track of the low should be to our south and thus the heaviest precipitation should also pass to our south.  Nonetheless it appears that rain is likely with anywhere from a 0.1 to 0.30 inches of rain mainly during the day on Wednesday.  There is a chance given the strength of the upper-low and the cold pocket of air aloft that will move over our area associated with the system that some wet snow flakes could mix in at times with the rainfall especially Wednesday afternoon. Notice on the image below that the blue 0 degree line at 850 mb is south of most of Kentucky which would normally indicate snow.  However such warm air at the surface will likely keep most of the precipitation as rain.  Nontheless a full transition to wet snow Wednesday afternoon cannot be ruled out however nothing of any significance and no

GFS precipitation and thickness for 1 pm Wednesday.

GFS precipitation and 850 temperatures for noon Wednesday.

accumulation is expected at this time.  Behind this system the weather will turn dry for a while with colder air moving in.  Indications show that from Friday and especially into the weekend much colder air will return to Kentucky.

Climate Prediction Center's 6-10 day temperature outlook indicates a good chance of below average temperatures.

Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day temperature outlook indicates a good chance of below average temperatures.

Daily Forecast:

Tonight: Cloudy skies with a chance for a few sprinkles or even an isolated shower.  Low near 44. 8-14 mph winds from the south switching to the west around midnight.

Monday: Mostly sunny with a high near 58. West winds from 10-20 mph with gusts 20 mph +.

Monday Night: Clear skies with a low near 30. Light WNW winds.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny to start but cloudy by the afternoon; high near 51. Light north to northwest winds.

Tuesday Night: 50% chance of showers with a low near 34.  North to northeasterly winds from 3-8 mph.

Wednesday: 60% chance of showers possibly mixed with wet snow during the afternoon. No accumulation expected. High near 42. Rainfall totals between 0.1-0.3 inches.

Thursday: Morning low near 33; Mostly sunny skies with a high near 58.

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