kywx
Kentucky AI Weather Engine

Kentucky AI Forecasting Beta

Sun, Aug 9
Tue, Aug 11
Forecast For

Monday, August 10

Updated Aug 10, 7:14 AM EDT

NWS Alerts Active This Day

Heat Advisory

Aug 10, 1:50 AM -> Aug 10, 5:00 PM
Moderate Severity

Heat Advisory issued August 10 at 12:50AM CDT until August 13 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Flood Watch

Aug 10, 12:35 PM -> Aug 10, 8:45 PM
Severe Severity

Flood Watch issued August 10 at 12:35PM EDT until August 14 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Aug 10, 12:48 PM -> Aug 10, 8:00 PM
Severe Severity

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued August 10 at 12:48PM EDT until August 10 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Aug 10, 12:51 PM -> Aug 10, 8:00 PM
Severe Severity

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued August 10 at 12:51PM EDT until August 10 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV

Flood Watch

Aug 10, 1:04 PM -> Aug 11, 4:00 AM
Severe Severity

Flood Watch issued August 10 at 1:04PM EDT until August 12 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Heat Advisory

Aug 10, 1:15 PM -> Aug 11, 8:00 AM
Moderate Severity

Heat Advisory issued August 10 at 12:15PM CDT until August 13 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Flood Watch

Aug 10, 1:28 PM -> Aug 10, 9:30 PM
Severe Severity

Flood Watch issued August 10 at 1:28PM EDT until August 12 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Jackson KY

Heat Advisory

Aug 10, 1:35 PM -> Aug 11, 5:00 AM
Moderate Severity

Heat Advisory issued August 10 at 1:35PM EDT until August 11 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Louisville KY

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Aug 10, 2:44 PM -> Aug 10, 8:00 PM
Severe Severity

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued August 10 at 2:44PM EDT until August 10 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Aug 10, 2:44 PM -> Aug 10, 8:00 PM
Severe Severity

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued August 10 at 2:44PM EDT until August 10 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Flood Watch

Aug 10, 7:54 PM -> Aug 11, 4:00 AM
Severe Severity

Flood Watch issued August 10 at 7:54PM EDT until August 14 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV

Confidence
70%

Cold Front to Bring Widespread Rain and Temperature Drop

A potent cold front will sweep across Kentucky on Monday, ending the recent heat wave with widespread rain showers and a sharp drop in temperatures, particularly in western and central regions.

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

Confidence is high that a front will move through, but the GFS outlier status on precipitation creates uncertainty regarding the exact 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

NUISANCE
Paducah, Murray, Mayfield
Morning Heat, Afternoon Rain
Rain
92°/ 68°

Northwest Pennyrile

IMPACTFUL
Owensboro, Henderson, Morganfield
Heavy Rain and Sharp Cooling
Heavy_Rain
87°/ 65°

Southwest Pennyrile

IMPACTFUL
Hopkinsville, Madisonville, Princeton
Rainy and Turning Cooler
Rain
90°/ 67°

Barren River

NUISANCE
Bowling Green, Glasgow, Franklin
Showers Arriving by Midday
Rain
89°/ 69°

Louisville Metro

NUISANCE
Louisville, La Grange, Shepherdsville
Wet Afternoon Commute
Rain
85°/ 71°

Lincoln Trail

NUISANCE
Elizabethtown, Bardstown, Leitchfield
Rain and Gusty Conditions
Rain
84°/ 65°

Lake Cumberland

NUISANCE
Somerset, Columbia, Monticello
Scattered Afternoon Showers
Rain
88°/ 69°

Northern Kentucky

NUISANCE
Covington, Florence, Independence
Gray and Damp
Rain
79°/ 71°

Inner Bluegrass

NUISANCE
Lexington, Georgetown, Winchester
Rain Late in the Afternoon
Rain
84°/ 70°

Bluegrass Foothills

NUISANCE
Richmond, Danville, Berea
Rain Moving In
Rain
85°/ 68°

Northeast Kentucky

Ashland, Morehead, Grayson
Clouds Increasing with Light Rain
Rain
85°/ 70°

Southeast Kentucky

NUISANCE
Hazard, Pikeville, Harlan
Late Rain for the Mountains
Rain
86°/ 69°

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 moisture plume fully couples with the frontal forcing as the NAM suggests, western and southern Kentucky could see rainfall totals exceeding 1.5 inches with a dramatic 25-degree temperature drop in the afternoon.

💨

The 'Bust' Scenario

The GFS scenario: The ridge holds firm, the shortwave shears out to the north, and Kentucky remains dry and sweltering with temperatures in the mid-90s.

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 Eastern KY Moisture Cutoff

Models disagree on how much moisture reaches the Northeast and Southeast Coalfields before the front slows down.

NAM
VS
EURO
Why EURO Wins

The Euro maintains the moisture plume further east than the NAM, which often 'dries out' systems too quickly in complex terrain.

Affected Regions
NORTHEAST KYSOUTHEAST COALFIELDS

The Frontal Disconnect

A major disagreement exists regarding the existence of a cold front. The NAM and Euro show a sharp boundary and widespread rain, while the GFS predicts a dry, barotropic ridge with record heat.

NAM
VS
EURO
VS
GFS
Why BLEND Wins

The GFS is likely suffering from a dry bias given the consensus between the NAM and Euro regarding the shortwave trough's progression. However, the NAM's high rainfall totals appear as typical mesoscale outliers, so a blend with the Euro's more moderate rain totals is preferred.

Affected Regions
PURCHASENORTHWEST PENNYRILELOUISVILLE METROBLUEGRASS 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 warm-sector environment with high freezing levels (14k ft) will be sharply replaced by a cooler post-frontal air mass. Lapse rates will be moist-adiabatic ahead of the front.

Thermal Boundary

The cold front will push from the Mississippi River at mid-morning to the I-75 corridor by late evening.

Diurnal Trend

Non-diurnal trends will be prevalent; temperatures in western Kentucky will peak early and fall throughout the 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

A sharp wind shift from Southwest to Northwest will accompany a 15-20 degree temperature drop behind the boundary.

Jet Stream Support

Moderate support from the right entrance region of the polar jet providing large-scale ascent.

Energy Status

A compact shortwave trough provides positive vorticity advection, peaking during the afternoon hours.

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 column is deeply saturated from 850mb to 500mb along and ahead of the front.

Precipitation Character

Primarily stratiform rain with embedded convective elements capable of producing brief heavy downpours.

Flooding Context

Minimal risk due to the progressive nature of the front, though minor ponding is possible in the Pennyrile regions.

Winter Physics

Accumulation & Layers

Specific physical factors affecting winter weather, including the vertical melt/freeze profile and snow quality.

Layer Analysis

None. Temperatures remain well above freezing throughout the column.

Crystal Habit

N/A

Road Impact

Wet roads may be slick during the afternoon commute as the front crosses major corridors.

Celestial Almanac

Moon Phase

Waning Crescent

6% Illumination
Moonrise
4:27 AM
Moonset
7:53 PM
Purchase Area
Sunrise
7:08 AM
Sunset
8:54 PM
Civil Dawn
6:40 AM
Civil Dusk
9:22 PM
Northwest Pennyrile
Sunrise
7:00 AM
Sunset
8:49 PM
Civil Dawn
6:32 AM
Civil Dusk
9:17 PM
Southwest Pennyrile
Sunrise
7:04 AM
Sunset
8:49 PM
Civil Dawn
6:36 AM
Civil Dusk
9:17 PM
Barren River
Sunrise
6:59 AM
Sunset
8:45 PM
Civil Dawn
6:31 AM
Civil Dusk
9:13 PM
Louisville Metro
Sunrise
6:54 AM
Sunset
8:44 PM
Civil Dawn
6:25 AM
Civil Dusk
9:13 PM
Lincoln Trail
Sunrise
6:56 AM
Sunset
8:44 PM
Civil Dawn
6:27 AM
Civil Dusk
9:12 PM
Lake Cumberland
Sunrise
6:52 AM
Sunset
8:38 PM
Civil Dawn
6:24 AM
Civil Dusk
9:06 PM
Northern Kentucky
Sunrise
6:47 AM
Sunset
8:41 PM
Civil Dawn
6:18 AM
Civil Dusk
9:10 PM
Inner Bluegrass
Sunrise
6:49 AM
Sunset
8:39 PM
Civil Dawn
6:21 AM
Civil Dusk
9:07 PM
Bluegrass Foothills
Sunrise
6:49 AM
Sunset
8:38 PM
Civil Dawn
6:21 AM
Civil Dusk
9:06 PM
Northeast Kentucky
Sunrise
6:41 AM
Sunset
8:32 PM
Civil Dawn
6:12 AM
Civil Dusk
9:01 PM
Southeast Kentucky
Sunrise
6:46 AM
Sunset
8:32 PM
Civil Dawn
6:18 AM
Civil Dusk
9:00 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.