kywx
Kentucky AI Weather Engine

Kentucky AI Forecasting Beta

Mon, May 25
Wed, May 27
Forecast For

Tuesday, May 26

Updated May 26, 7:03 AM EDT

NWS Alerts Active This Day

Flood Warning

May 25, 11:18 AM -> May 25, 11:00 PM
Severe Severity

Flood Warning issued May 25 at 11:18AM EDT until May 25 at 10:48PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Flood Warning

May 25, 10:18 PM -> May 26, 12:00 PM
Severe Severity

Flood Warning issued May 25 at 10:18PM EDT until May 26 at 8:48PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Special Weather Statement

May 26, 8:10 AM -> May 26, 8:45 AM
Moderate Severity

Special Weather Statement issued May 26 at 7:10AM CDT by NWS Louisville KY

Special Weather Statement

May 26, 8:17 AM -> May 26, 8:45 AM
Moderate Severity

Special Weather Statement issued May 26 at 7:17AM CDT by NWS Louisville KY

Flood Advisory

May 26, 8:40 AM -> May 26, 11:45 AM
Minor Severity

Flood Advisory issued May 26 at 7:40AM CDT until May 26 at 10:45AM CDT by NWS Louisville KY

Flood Advisory

May 26, 9:23 AM -> May 26, 12:30 PM
Minor Severity

Flood Advisory issued May 26 at 8:23AM CDT until May 26 at 11:30AM CDT by NWS Louisville KY

Flood Advisory

May 26, 9:42 AM -> May 26, 1:45 PM
Minor Severity

Flood Advisory issued May 26 at 8:42AM CDT until May 26 at 12:45PM CDT by NWS Louisville KY

Flood Advisory

May 26, 10:22 AM -> May 26, 1:30 PM
Minor Severity

Flood Advisory issued May 26 at 9:22AM CDT until May 26 at 12:30PM CDT by NWS Louisville KY

Flash Flood Warning

May 26, 10:22 AM -> May 26, 1:30 PM
Severe Severity

Flash Flood Warning issued May 26 at 9:22AM CDT until May 26 at 12:30PM CDT by NWS Louisville KY

Flood Watch

May 26, 1:25 PM -> May 26, 9:30 PM
Severe Severity

Flood Watch issued May 26 at 1:25PM EDT until May 28 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV

Flood Watch

May 26, 1:44 PM -> May 27, 12:00 AM
Severe Severity

Flood Watch issued May 26 at 1:44PM EDT until May 28 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Flood Watch

May 26, 2:33 PM -> May 27, 6:15 AM
Severe Severity

Flood Watch issued May 26 at 2:33PM EDT until May 28 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Jackson KY

Flood Watch

May 26, 2:33 PM -> May 27, 5:00 AM
Severe Severity

Flood Watch issued May 26 at 2:33PM EDT until May 28 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Louisville KY

Flood Advisory

May 26, 2:38 PM -> May 26, 5:45 PM
Minor Severity

Flood Advisory issued May 26 at 1:38PM CDT until May 26 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Louisville KY

Flood Advisory

May 26, 2:56 PM -> May 26, 6:00 PM
Minor Severity

Flood Advisory issued May 26 at 2:56PM EDT until May 26 at 6:00PM EDT by NWS Louisville KY

Flash Flood Warning

May 26, 3:18 PM -> May 26, 5:15 PM
Severe Severity

Flash Flood Warning issued May 26 at 3:18PM EDT until May 26 at 5:15PM EDT by NWS Louisville KY

Special Weather Statement

May 26, 4:03 PM -> May 26, 4:30 PM
Moderate Severity

Special Weather Statement issued May 26 at 4:03PM EDT by NWS Louisville KY

Flood Advisory

May 26, 4:20 PM -> May 26, 7:30 PM
Minor Severity

Flood Advisory issued May 26 at 4:20PM EDT until May 26 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS Louisville KY

Flood Warning

May 26, 4:39 PM -> May 27, 11:00 AM
Severe Severity

Flood Warning issued May 26 at 3:39PM CDT until May 27 at 10:53PM CDT by NWS Louisville KY

Special Weather Statement

May 26, 4:57 PM -> May 26, 5:30 PM
Moderate Severity

Special Weather Statement issued May 26 at 4:57PM EDT by NWS Louisville KY

Special Weather Statement

May 26, 5:14 PM -> May 26, 5:45 PM
Moderate Severity

Special Weather Statement issued May 26 at 5:14PM EDT by NWS Jackson KY

Special Weather Statement

May 26, 5:23 PM -> May 26, 5:45 PM
Moderate Severity

Special Weather Statement issued May 26 at 5:23PM EDT by NWS Louisville KY

Tornado Warning

May 26, 7:56 PM -> May 26, 8:15 PM
Extreme Severity

Tornado Warning issued May 26 at 7:56PM EDT until May 26 at 8:15PM EDT by NWS Jackson KY

Confidence
85%

A Soggy Tuesday: Widespread Rain and Mild Temperatures

A widespread rain event will impact the Commonwealth on Tuesday as a progressive shortwave trough pivots through the Ohio Valley. While heavy rain is expected in the western half of the state during the morning, showers will gradually march eastward through the afternoon. Despite the damp conditions, temperatures will remain unseasonably mild, with highs reaching the 70s for most regions.

Why is this happening?
Technical explanation of the atmospheric setup
Confidence Assessment

High confidence exists regarding the precipitation type (100% rain) and the overall synoptic evolution. Confidence is slightly lower on the exact placement of the highest rainfall totals due to model differences in resolving the localized convective enhancements.

Get Personalized Forecasts

Choose which region in Kentucky you're interested in and we'll always show you that one first. You can change your selected region by clicking the "Star" icon on any regional forecast.

Purchase Area

IMPACTFUL
Paducah, Murray, Mayfield
Morning Downpours Lead to a Soggy Day
Heavy_Rain
75°/ 67°

Northwest Pennyrile

IMPACTFUL
Owensboro, Henderson, Morganfield
Significant Rainfall Expected in Owensboro
Heavy_Rain
73°/ 67°

Southwest Pennyrile

IMPACTFUL
Hopkinsville, Madisonville, Princeton
Damp and Humid with Persistent Rain
Heavy_Rain
76°/ 68°

Barren River

NUISANCE
Bowling Green, Glasgow, Franklin
Mild and Rainy for Bowling Green
Rain
78°/ 69°

Louisville Metro

NUISANCE
Louisville, La Grange, Shepherdsville
Rain Arrives for the Afternoon Commute
Rain
74°/ 66°

Lincoln Trail

IMPACTFUL
Elizabethtown, Bardstown, Leitchfield
Steady Rain Across the Heartland
Rain
73°/ 67°

Lake Cumberland

NUISANCE
Somerset, Columbia, Monticello
Persistent Showers for the Lake Area
Rain
76°/ 67°

Northern Kentucky

Covington, Florence, Independence
Light Showers Arrive Late
Rain
72°/ 64°

Inner Bluegrass

NUISANCE
Lexington, Georgetown, Winchester
Grey and Wet Day for Lexington
Rain
73°/ 66°

Bluegrass Foothills

NUISANCE
Richmond, Danville, Berea
Soggy Conditions for the Foothills
Rain
75°/ 66°

Northeast Kentucky

NUISANCE
Ashland, Morehead, Grayson
Rain Moves In for the Evening
Rain
72°/ 65°

Southeast Kentucky

NUISANCE
Hazard, Pikeville, Harlan
Afternoon Rain for the Mountains
Rain
75°/ 65°

Possible Outcomes

Weather forecasting involves uncertainty. Below are two scenarios representing the range of possible outcomes: the "Boom" scenario shows the worst-case/highest-impact result if conditions align unfavorably, while the "Bust" scenario shows the best-case/lowest-impact result if the forecast doesn't materialize as expected.

💥

The 'Boom' Scenario

The trough slows its progression, allowing for training convective cells in Western and Central Kentucky. This would maximize rainfall totals near 2.5 inches in the Pennyrile, leading to localized nuisance flooding in poor-drainage areas.

💨

The 'Bust' Scenario

Dry air entrainment into the mid-levels occurs faster than modeled, causing the rain to break into more scattered, light showers. In this scenario, totals would struggle to reach 0.25 inches for most locations east of I-65.

Model Disagreements

When models disagree, a call must be made to determine the most likely outcome. This decision is based on a combination of factors including model performance, historical data, and the models general accounting of each climatic region of Kentucky.

The Western Rainfall Bullseye

The NAM and GEM are aggressively forecasting a localized 'bullseye' of 1.5 to 2.0 inches of rain across the Pennyrile and Lincoln Trail regions. The GFS and Euro are more conservative, suggesting a broader area of 1.0 inch totals.

NAM
VS
GEM
VS
GFS
Why EURO Wins

In environments with very low CAPE (instability), the NAM's 'bullseye' effect often over-forecasts localized convective totals. The Euro's 'steady hand' approach better aligns with the stratiform nature of the forced ascent.

Affected Regions
NORTHWEST PENNYRILESOUTHWEST PENNYRILELINCOLN TRAIL

The Northern Moisture Cutoff

The GEM model suggests a significant dry slot for Northern Kentucky, keeping the region almost entirely dry, while the GFS and Euro show light rain extending to the Ohio River.

GEM
VS
GFS
VS
EURO
Why GFS Wins

While the GFS has a 'smear' bias, the overall synoptic support and moisture transport values suggest the northern regions will see at least light measurable precipitation rather than remaining completely dry.

Affected Regions
NORTHERN KY

Technical Analysis

This section provides a deep, physics-based explanation of the weather. Our AI system analyzed multiple atmospheric layers and variables from all available models to synthesize this technical overview.

Below you'll find detailed breakdowns of the atmospheric dynamics that are driving today's forecast, including thermodynamics, kinematics, and hydrology.

Thermodynamics

Stability & Temperatures

How temperature changes with altitude. This determines whether precipitation falls as rain, snow, sleet, or freezing rain based on the vertical temperature profile.

Thermal Profile Overview

The vertical profile is characterized by a moist adiabatic lapse rate with no inversions. High freezing levels (>12,000 ft) ensure an all-liquid event.

Thermal Boundary

The freezing boundary is located well north of the Great Lakes; Kentucky is fully entrenched in the warm sector.

Diurnal Trend

A suppressed diurnal curve is expected due to 90-100% cloud cover, with a narrow spread between morning lows and afternoon highs.

Kinematics

Wind & Energy

Wind patterns and atmospheric energy. Frontal passages, jet stream positioning, and vorticity tell us where and when lift will generate precipitation.

Frontal Passage

A weak pre-frontal trough will pass mid-day, followed by a diffuse cold front late in the evening, evidenced by a slight shift to southwesterly winds.

Jet Stream Support

Strong upper-level support is provided by the right-entrance region of a Great Lakes jet streak, enhancing synoptic lift.

Energy Status

A compact shortwave trough is the primary energy source, with a concentrated vorticity maximum pivoting through Western KY by 12Z.

Hydrology

Moisture & Precipitation

Moisture content and precipitation character. This reveals whether the atmosphere is saturated enough to produce precipitation, and what type to expect (steady vs. bursts).

Saturation Status

The atmospheric column is deeply saturated from the surface through 400mb, with negligible virga risk due to low dewpoint depressions.

Precipitation Character

Rain will be primarily stratiform and steady, with occasional embedded bursts of heavier rain in the western river valleys.

Flooding Context

The ground is currently unsaturated; however, the potential for 1.5+ inches of rain in Western KY could lead to minor ponding on roadways.

Celestial Almanac

Moon Phase

Waxing Gibbous

80% Illumination
Moonrise
4:58 PM
Moonset
3:53 AM
Purchase Area
Sunrise
6:40 AM
Sunset
9:05 PM
Civil Dawn
6:10 AM
Civil Dusk
9:35 PM
Northwest Pennyrile
Sunrise
6:32 AM
Sunset
9:01 PM
Civil Dawn
6:02 AM
Civil Dusk
9:31 PM
Southwest Pennyrile
Sunrise
6:36 AM
Sunset
9:00 PM
Civil Dawn
6:06 AM
Civil Dusk
9:30 PM
Barren River
Sunrise
6:32 AM
Sunset
8:56 PM
Civil Dawn
6:02 AM
Civil Dusk
9:26 PM
Louisville Metro
Sunrise
6:25 AM
Sunset
8:57 PM
Civil Dawn
5:55 AM
Civil Dusk
9:27 PM
Lincoln Trail
Sunrise
6:27 AM
Sunset
8:56 PM
Civil Dawn
5:57 AM
Civil Dusk
9:26 PM
Lake Cumberland
Sunrise
6:24 AM
Sunset
8:49 PM
Civil Dawn
5:54 AM
Civil Dusk
9:19 PM
Northern Kentucky
Sunrise
6:18 AM
Sunset
8:54 PM
Civil Dawn
5:47 AM
Civil Dusk
9:25 PM
Inner Bluegrass
Sunrise
6:21 AM
Sunset
8:51 PM
Civil Dawn
5:50 AM
Civil Dusk
9:22 PM
Bluegrass Foothills
Sunrise
6:21 AM
Sunset
8:50 PM
Civil Dawn
5:50 AM
Civil Dusk
9:20 PM
Northeast Kentucky
Sunrise
6:12 AM
Sunset
8:45 PM
Civil Dawn
5:41 AM
Civil Dusk
9:16 PM
Southeast Kentucky
Sunrise
6:18 AM
Sunset
8:44 PM
Civil Dawn
5:48 AM
Civil Dusk
9:14 PM

Dive Deeper Into the Models

This forecast is a synthesis of raw data from the NAM, GFS, ECMWF, and GEM models. These models provide detailed atmospheric analyses including 500mb vorticity, precipitation rates, and more. You can take a look at the raw model data by clicking the links below.