Discussion: Despite what the calendar states …Spring that is… winter will certainly be making its presence felt this week. A cold front pushed through over the weekend and behind it a cold area of high pressure has settled in across the Ohio Valley. This has set up days like today and yesterday where we have sunny skies but cool temperatures. This includes the overnight hours… we plunged to a low of 26 last night in Bowling Green for example.
High pressure will break down enough to allow a clipper system to move into the region overnight tonight. As a result clouds will be on the increase late today and there is a chance for isolated rain and snow showers tonight. Yes, I said snow showers. Don’t worry, no accumulation is expected if anything fall as all.
Simulated reflectivity from the NAM model indicates the chance of scattered precipitation tonight… precip will be in the form of rain and snow showers.
This area of disturbed weather will continue right into Tuesday and thus it will be a less than ideal day. A few scattered snow showers or flurries are possible but otherwise it will be cloudy and cold with a high only in the low 40s. That is about 20 degrees below average for this time of year. And if that’s not cold then the low by Wednesday morning surely is. Skies will clear overnight Tuesday allowing temperatures to plummet near 20. Brrr!
The NAM model valid Wednesday morning indicates high pressure directly over south-central Kentucky. This means clear skies and calm winds which will lead to cold temperatures
As for the rest of Wednesday, skies should be generally sunny with yet another area of high pressure taking control. Still chilly despite the sun however with below average temperatures in the 40s.
By Thursday, the high pressure will have pushed well to our east as a low pressure and cold front approach our area from the west. This will place Kentucky in between the 2 systems allowing for gusty but warm southerly winds to occur. Thankfully this means Thursday we should see a return to the 60s for highs.
The approaching system will bring the chance for rain showers Thursday afternoon/evening into the overnight hours. Still some uncertainly with the timing of this system however, so some forecast fluctuation is likely.
Daily Forecasts:
Today: Mostly sunny but cool with a high near 49. Light northerly winds.
Tonight: 30% chance of light rain and snow showers. No accumulation with total precipitation less than 0.10″. Low around 30 with light northerly winds up to 8 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of a light snow shower or a few flurries. Chilly with a high only around 43. Breezy with winds from the northwest at 8-18 mph.
Tuesday Night: Clearing skies with winds decreasing becoming calm. Cold with a low near 20.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny skies with a few clouds late. Fairly light winds becoming southeasterly. High near 47.
Wednesday Night: Clouds will increase becoming cloudy by Thursday morning. Winds will be from the south at 4-12 mph.
Thursday: 30% chance of rain with otherwise cloudy skies. High near 61.
Thursday Night: 50% chance of rain with otherwise cloudy skies. Low in the low 50s.