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Kentucky AI Weather Engine

Kentucky AI Forecasting Beta

Wed, Jun 24
Fri, Jun 26
Forecast For

Thursday, June 25

Updated Jun 25, 7:16 AM EDT

NWS Alerts Active This Day

Flood Watch

Jun 25, 2:36 AM -> Jun 25, 4:00 PM
Severe Severity

Flood Watch issued June 25 at 1:36AM CDT until June 27 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Flood Watch

Jun 25, 4:13 AM -> Jun 25, 5:00 PM
Severe Severity

Flood Watch issued June 25 at 4:13AM EDT until June 27 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Louisville KY

Flood Watch

Jun 25, 2:17 PM -> Jun 26, 6:00 AM
Severe Severity

Flood Watch issued June 25 at 1:17PM CDT until June 27 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Flood Watch

Jun 25, 3:54 PM -> Jun 26, 5:00 AM
Severe Severity

Flood Watch issued June 25 at 3:54PM EDT until June 27 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Louisville KY

Confidence
85%

Scattered Showers North; Humid and Warm South

A weak surface boundary will sag across the Ohio River Valley, focusing light rain and increased cloud cover over Northern and Central Kentucky. Southern regions will remain dry and seasonally warm under a mix of sun and clouds.

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

High confidence in the temperature forecast and the location of the stalled boundary. Moderate confidence in the exact rainfall amounts due to the risk of low-level evaporation (virga).

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

NUISANCE
Paducah, Murray, Mayfield
Light Showers Moving In
Rain
87°/ 69°

Northwest Pennyrile

NUISANCE
Owensboro, Henderson, Morganfield
Increasing Clouds and Evening Rain
Rain
85°/ 66°

Southwest Pennyrile

Hopkinsville, Madisonville, Princeton
Dry and Partly Cloudy
Cloudy
86°/ 67°

Barren River

Bowling Green, Glasgow, Franklin
Pleasant and Mostly Sunny
Sunny
85°/ 65°

Louisville Metro

NUISANCE
Louisville, La Grange, Shepherdsville
Showers Arriving for Evening Commute
Rain
85°/ 67°

Lincoln Trail

NUISANCE
Elizabethtown, Bardstown, Leitchfield
Mainly Dry with Afternoon Clouds
Rain
83°/ 63°

Lake Cumberland

Somerset, Columbia, Monticello
Peak Summer Sunshine
Sunny
86°/ 62°

Northern Kentucky

IMPACTFUL
Covington, Florence, Independence
Persistent Rain Showers
Rain
82°/ 63°

Inner Bluegrass

NUISANCE
Lexington, Georgetown, Winchester
Breezy with Late Showers
Rain
83°/ 63°

Bluegrass Foothills

Richmond, Danville, Berea
Clouds Increase, Staying Dry
Cloudy
83°/ 62°

Northeast Kentucky

NUISANCE
Ashland, Morehead, Grayson
Evening Sprinkle Possible
Rain
85°/ 63°

Southeast Kentucky

Hazard, Pikeville, Harlan
Cloudy but Dry
Cloudy
84°/ 57°

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 'Boom' scenario occurs if the stalled boundary gains more moisture from the Gulf and local instability exceeds 500 J/kg, potentially boosting rainfall totals in the Louisville and Northern Kentucky corridors to over 0.50 inches with isolated thunderstorms.

💨

The 'Bust' Scenario

The 'Bust' scenario occurs if the dry low-level air (dewpoint depressions >15F) seen in the GFS and Euro remains entrenched, leading to a widespread virga event where most rain evaporates before reaching the ground, leaving only sprinkles for the northern tier.

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 QPF Coverage Conflict

Models disagree on the intensity and southern extent of the precipitation shield. The NAM is more aggressive with localized rainfall totals near 0.25-0.40 inches, while the GFS and Euro suggest a much lighter, more disorganized event with totals under 0.10 inches.

NAM
VS
GFS
VS
EURO
Why NAM Wins

The NAM typically resolves shallow, stalling boundaries and low-level moisture convergence better than global models within the 48-hour window. Its higher QPF aligns with the expected frontogenetic forcing along the 850mb layer.

Affected Regions
LOUISVILLE METRONORTHERN KYNORTHWEST PENNYRILE

The Virga Trap

The NAM predicts 80% POPs across the Southeast Coalfields but zero liquid accumulation, suggesting a high risk of virga. The Euro and GFS simply keep the area dry with low POPs.

NAM
VS
EURO
Why EURO Wins

While the NAM correctly identifies the moisture aloft, the public-facing forecast should reflect the lack of measurable rain. The Euro's lower POP is a better representation of the dry surface conditions.

Affected Regions
SOUTHEAST COALFIELDSBLUEGRASS FOOTHILLS

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

Standard summer profile with an adiabatic lapse rate in the low levels. No significant inversions are present, and the freezing level remains well above 12,000 feet.

Thermal Boundary

A weak surface cold front or thermal boundary is stalled roughly along the I-64 corridor, separating slightly drier air to the north from humid air to the south.

Diurnal Trend

Standard diurnal heating is expected for the southern half of the state. In the north, cloud cover and light rain will cause temperatures to plateau or slightly drop by late afternoon.

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

The boundary is stalling rather than passing, evidenced by weak wind shifts from the southwest to the west-northwest at 5-10 mph.

Jet Stream Support

The right entrance region of a northern-stream jet provides broad synoptic lift, aiding in the saturation of the 850-500mb layer.

Energy Status

Weak vorticity advection (approx 0.0001 units) is insufficient for severe weather but supports steady stratiform rain.

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 saturated in the mid-levels across the north, but surface dewpoint depressions remain 10-15 degrees, posing a virga risk early in the event.

Precipitation Character

Stratiform rain and drizzle. Low CAPE and poor lapse rates will prevent lightning for most of the state.

Flooding Context

No flooding risk. Rainfall rates will be low and the ground is currently capable of high infiltration.

Celestial Almanac

Moon Phase

Waxing Gibbous

83% Illumination
Moonrise
5:53 PM
Moonset
3:12 AM
Purchase Area
Sunrise
6:37 AM
Sunset
9:19 PM
Civil Dawn
6:06 AM
Civil Dusk
9:50 PM
Northwest Pennyrile
Sunrise
6:29 AM
Sunset
9:15 PM
Civil Dawn
5:57 AM
Civil Dusk
9:46 PM
Southwest Pennyrile
Sunrise
6:33 AM
Sunset
9:14 PM
Civil Dawn
6:02 AM
Civil Dusk
9:45 PM
Barren River
Sunrise
6:28 AM
Sunset
9:10 PM
Civil Dawn
5:58 AM
Civil Dusk
9:41 PM
Louisville Metro
Sunrise
6:22 AM
Sunset
9:11 PM
Civil Dawn
5:50 AM
Civil Dusk
9:43 PM
Lincoln Trail
Sunrise
6:24 AM
Sunset
9:10 PM
Civil Dawn
5:53 AM
Civil Dusk
9:41 PM
Lake Cumberland
Sunrise
6:21 AM
Sunset
9:03 PM
Civil Dawn
5:50 AM
Civil Dusk
9:34 PM
Northern Kentucky
Sunrise
6:14 AM
Sunset
9:09 PM
Civil Dawn
5:42 AM
Civil Dusk
9:41 PM
Inner Bluegrass
Sunrise
6:17 AM
Sunset
9:05 PM
Civil Dawn
5:46 AM
Civil Dusk
9:37 PM
Bluegrass Foothills
Sunrise
6:17 AM
Sunset
9:04 PM
Civil Dawn
5:46 AM
Civil Dusk
9:35 PM
Northeast Kentucky
Sunrise
6:09 AM
Sunset
8:59 PM
Civil Dawn
5:37 AM
Civil Dusk
9:31 PM
Southeast Kentucky
Sunrise
6:14 AM
Sunset
8:58 PM
Civil Dawn
5:43 AM
Civil Dusk
9:29 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.