kywx
Kentucky AI Weather Engine

Kentucky AI Forecasting Beta

Fri, Aug 7
Sun, Aug 9
Forecast For

Saturday, August 8

Updated Aug 8, 7:16 AM EDT

NWS Alerts Active This Day

Flood Advisory

Aug 7, 5:14 PM -> Aug 7, 8:15 PM
Minor Severity

Flood Advisory issued August 7 at 5:14PM EDT until August 7 at 8:15PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Special Weather Statement

Aug 8, 1:57 PM -> Aug 8, 2:30 PM
Moderate Severity

Special Weather Statement issued August 8 at 12:57PM CDT by NWS Louisville KY

Special Weather Statement

Aug 8, 2:28 PM -> Aug 8, 2:45 PM
Moderate Severity

Special Weather Statement issued August 8 at 1:28PM CDT by NWS Louisville KY

Special Weather Statement

Aug 8, 2:43 PM -> Aug 8, 3:15 PM
Moderate Severity

Special Weather Statement issued August 8 at 1:43PM CDT by NWS Louisville KY

Special Weather Statement

Aug 8, 3:42 PM -> Aug 8, 4:30 PM
Moderate Severity

Special Weather Statement issued August 8 at 2:42PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Flood Advisory

Aug 8, 4:10 PM -> Aug 8, 7:15 PM
Minor Severity

Flood Advisory issued August 8 at 3:10PM CDT until August 8 at 6:15PM CDT by NWS Louisville KY

Flood Advisory

Aug 8, 4:14 PM -> Aug 8, 7:15 PM
Minor Severity

Flood Advisory issued August 8 at 3:14PM CDT until August 8 at 6:15PM CDT by NWS Louisville KY

Special Weather Statement

Aug 8, 4:37 PM -> Aug 8, 5:30 PM
Moderate Severity

Special Weather Statement issued August 8 at 3:37PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Special Weather Statement

Aug 8, 5:14 PM -> Aug 8, 6:00 PM
Moderate Severity

Special Weather Statement issued August 8 at 4:14PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Special Weather Statement

Aug 8, 5:59 PM -> Aug 8, 6:30 PM
Moderate Severity

Special Weather Statement issued August 8 at 4:59PM CDT by NWS Louisville KY

Flood Advisory

Aug 8, 7:49 PM -> Aug 8, 10:00 PM
Minor Severity

Flood Advisory issued August 8 at 7:49PM EDT until August 8 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Jackson KY

Confidence
60%

Summer Heat Paired with Scattered Evening Thunderstorms

A warm and muggy summer air mass will dominate the state, with temperatures reaching the upper 80s to low 90s. While western Kentucky remains mostly dry, a weak shortwave trough will trigger scattered to numerous showers and storms across central and northern Kentucky, primarily during the late afternoon and evening hours.

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

High confidence in regional heat and humidity, but lower confidence in the precise coverage and intensity of afternoon storms due to significant model disagreement on rainfall totals.

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

Paducah, Murray, Mayfield
Hot and Mostly Sunny
Sunny
86°/ 73°

Northwest Pennyrile

Owensboro, Henderson, Morganfield
Warm and Partly Cloudy
Cloudy
88°/ 72°

Southwest Pennyrile

NUISANCE
Hopkinsville, Madisonville, Princeton
Late Afternoon Showers
Rain
87°/ 71°

Barren River

NUISANCE
Bowling Green, Glasgow, Franklin
Occasional Rain Showers
Rain
85°/ 71°

Louisville Metro

IMPACTFUL
Louisville, La Grange, Shepherdsville
Hot with Evening Thunderstorms
Heavy_Rain
90°/ 75°

Lincoln Trail

Elizabethtown, Bardstown, Leitchfield
Humid and Breezy
Cloudy
87°/ 70°

Lake Cumberland

NUISANCE
Somerset, Columbia, Monticello
Rain Arriving Late
Rain
86°/ 71°

Northern Kentucky

IMPACTFUL
Covington, Florence, Independence
Hot Day, Stormy Night
Heavy_Rain
91°/ 71°

Inner Bluegrass

NUISANCE
Lexington, Georgetown, Winchester
Evening Showers and Humid
Rain
88°/ 71°

Bluegrass Foothills

NUISANCE
Richmond, Danville, Berea
Afternoon Rain and Warmth
Rain
87°/ 70°

Northeast Kentucky

NUISANCE
Ashland, Morehead, Grayson
Sultry with Passing Showers
Rain
89°/ 70°

Southeast Kentucky

NUISANCE
Hazard, Pikeville, Harlan
Mountain Showers
Rain
86°/ 70°

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

If the mid-level cap erodes faster and moisture maximizes as the NAM suggests, we could see widespread heavy rainfall amounts approaching 1 inch in the Metro areas, leading to localized urban drainage issues.

💨

The 'Bust' Scenario

If the mid-level dry air seen in GFS soundings entrains into the system, storm development will be suppressed, resulting in only scattered light sprinkles and virga across the Bluegrass and Northern Kentucky.

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.

Western Kentucky Dry Line

The Euro brings 80% PoPs into the Purchase area, while the NAM and GFS keep conditions entirely dry with high pressure influence.

NAM
VS
GFS
VS
EURO
Why GFS Wins

The Euro exhibits a known bias for over-forecasting light precipitation coverage (smearing) in the presence of weak forcing; the drier NAM/GFS solution aligns better with the observed subsidence in the west.

Affected Regions
PURCHASENORTHWEST PENNYRILE

Convective Intensity Conflict

The NAM suggests localized heavy rain bursts up to 1 inch due to better resolution of pulse convection, whereas the GFS and Euro favor a much lighter, stratiform rain character with totals under 0.15 inches.

NAM
VS
GFS
VS
EURO
Why NAM Wins

The NAM's higher resolution typically captures the pulse-style nature of summer convection and localized moisture convergence more accurately than global models which tend to smear precipitation too thinly.

Affected Regions
LOUISVILLE METRONORTHERN KYBLUEGRASS CORE

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

A standard adiabatic lapse rate will exist below the mid-levels, with a deep warm layer and freezing levels exceeding 14,000 feet. A shallow morning inversion may exist in eastern valleys.

Thermal Boundary

A weak surface trough is stalled along the Ohio River, serving as the focal point for evening convective initiation.

Diurnal Trend

A traditional diurnal curve will see temps peak by late afternoon, though evaporative cooling from rain will cause non-diurnal drops in the evening across the northern tier.

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

No true cold front is present; a pre-frontal trough/outflow boundary will move through after 18Z providing the primary forcing.

Jet Stream Support

The right exit region of a 300mb jet streak provides modest divergence, supporting broad lift across the Ohio Valley.

Energy Status

A weak shortwave impulse with peak vorticity between 18Z and 03Z will act as the trigger for precipitation.

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

Saturated in the 700-500mb layer, but the lower levels remain dry in the west. Virga is possible in central KY before full saturation occurs.

Precipitation Character

Primarily convective and pulse-like in nature, with some stratiform characteristics in the eastern coalfields late.

Flooding Context

Ground is not saturated; hydrologic threat is low, though urban areas may see minor ponding from brief heavy bursts.

Celestial Almanac

Moon Phase

Waning Crescent

22% Illumination
Moonrise
2:11 AM
Moonset
6:04 PM
Purchase Area
Sunrise
7:06 AM
Sunset
8:56 PM
Civil Dawn
6:38 AM
Civil Dusk
9:24 PM
Northwest Pennyrile
Sunrise
6:59 AM
Sunset
8:51 PM
Civil Dawn
6:30 AM
Civil Dusk
9:20 PM
Southwest Pennyrile
Sunrise
7:02 AM
Sunset
8:51 PM
Civil Dawn
6:34 AM
Civil Dusk
9:19 PM
Barren River
Sunrise
6:58 AM
Sunset
8:47 PM
Civil Dawn
6:30 AM
Civil Dusk
9:15 PM
Louisville Metro
Sunrise
6:52 AM
Sunset
8:47 PM
Civil Dawn
6:24 AM
Civil Dusk
9:15 PM
Lincoln Trail
Sunrise
6:54 AM
Sunset
8:46 PM
Civil Dawn
6:25 AM
Civil Dusk
9:15 PM
Lake Cumberland
Sunrise
6:50 AM
Sunset
8:40 PM
Civil Dawn
6:22 AM
Civil Dusk
9:08 PM
Northern Kentucky
Sunrise
6:46 AM
Sunset
8:43 PM
Civil Dawn
6:16 AM
Civil Dusk
9:13 PM
Inner Bluegrass
Sunrise
6:48 AM
Sunset
8:41 PM
Civil Dawn
6:19 AM
Civil Dusk
9:10 PM
Bluegrass Foothills
Sunrise
6:47 AM
Sunset
8:40 PM
Civil Dawn
6:19 AM
Civil Dusk
9:08 PM
Northeast Kentucky
Sunrise
6:39 AM
Sunset
8:35 PM
Civil Dawn
6:10 AM
Civil Dusk
9:04 PM
Southeast Kentucky
Sunrise
6:44 AM
Sunset
8:35 PM
Civil Dawn
6:16 AM
Civil Dusk
9:03 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.