The Summer Feel Has Arrived

wxornotBG 5/17/17: Summer heat continues today into Thursday, before shower & storm chances arrive Thursday night through the weekend.

Posted by Landon Hampton on Wednesday, 17 May 2017


Forecast Discussion

Yesterday was just a tease because the summer feel will be sticking around for much of this week. If you don’t like hot weather, this may be you this week.

(Giphy/Best Brains)

Well, today’s weather will arguably stink the least…it’ll still be hot.

We’re still under the influence of a high pressure system that’s just of the Atlantic Coast heading toward Bermuda.

AWC Prog Chart valid at 7am this morning. (Aviation Weather Center)

Also notice the strong storm system across the great plains that produced many reports of severe weather, including storms that the WKU Storm Chase was tracking yesterday. That’s also heading in our direction. In between these systems, we’ll expect winds to increase, especially coming out of the southwest. These southwesterly winds will be not only pumping in more heat but especially more moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. This, in turn, will turn the muggy meter up towards “summer” levels.

Hi-res NAM forecast surface dew points valid today at 4pm. (Pivotal Weather)

The models put us somewhere in the lower-to-mid-60s for dew points today, which is getting muggy. Not oppressive, need-oars-to-get-to-the-car muggy but you’ll definitely feel it outside tomorrow. Another thing you’ll feel is the wind. Sustained winds throughout the day could reach 15-20 MPH with gusts reaching up to 30-35 MPH. Tomorrow is the perfect recipe for a mid-May bad hair day.

Today: Mostly sunny skies with perhaps a bit of haze. High right around 89º. Clouds increase at night and we only drop to around 70º at night.

  • Wake up: ☀️ 71°
  • Lunch hour: 🌤 79°
  • Bus stop: 🌤 88°
  • Evening time: ⛅️ 76°

Tomorrow looks quite similar to today, but we should have a few more clouds and that’ll knock our temperatures back a few degrees from today’s near-90º readings.

Hi-res NAM surface temperatures valid for 4pm tomorrow. (Pivotal Weather)

That system across the plains will be on the approach, however and the gusty southwest winds will still be with us. Thursday, during the day, looks dry. It’s Thursday night that our first rain chance enters the picture.

A piece of energy associated with the main system approaching from the west will give our area a chance at a few storms starting late Thursday but more so into Friday.

Tomorrow: More partly cloudy skies but with a touch more haze possible and staying breezy. High right around 85º. Clouds increase and so does the risk for an isolated storm, especially late. Low right around 70º again.

  • Wake up: 🌤 68°
  • Lunch hour: 🌤 77°
  • Bus stop: 🌤 84°
  • Evening time: ⛅️/⛈ 73°

Looking for a dry end of the week? Well, looks like you’re in for some…

Okay, I just wanted to use another MST3K gif. (Giphy/Best Brains)

Make no mistake, Friday does contain the best chance for rain this (work) week, but it won’t be a washout.

NAM simulated radar for the day on Friday showing the possibility for a few scattered storms. (Pivotal Weather)

Thanks to the increased cloud cover, Friday won’t feel quite like a preview of the middle of summer but it will still be warm and muggy outside of thunderstorms.

Tomorrow: Partly cloudy skies with a slight chance of a scattered storm or two. High right around 83º. Any storms during the day will taper off overnight to partly cloudy skies with a low around 70º.

  • Wake up: 🌤/⛈ 72°
  • Lunch hour: ⛅️/⛈ 75°
  • Bus stop: ⛅️/⛈ 82°
  • Evening time: ⛅️ 73°

Today’s Key Points

  • Today stays sunny, warm and windy.
  • Summer preview continues into Thursday with weather similar today.
  • Thunderstorm chances increase Thursday night and into Friday.
  • Scattered thunderstorms possible Friday, especially early. Slightly cooler.

That just about does it for me! Thanks for checking into WxOrNotBG this morning, and be sure to follow @wxornotBG and @WKUweather on Twitter and like Landon Hampton on Facebook for the latest Bowling Green Weather information. Have a terrific Wednesday!