Storms the Reason to Stare at the Skies Today

wxornotBG 8/22/17: Strong/severe storm chances join a passing cold front today; much cooler remainder of the week.

Publicado por Landon Hampton em Terça-feira, 22 de agosto de 2017


The Headlines

After an incredible show yesterday, with the moon eclipsing the sun in a breathtaking show of nature’s awesomeness, we’re going to be looking at the sky for a different reason today. We’re paying for the wonderful eclipse weather yesterday with storms today.

But first, just a couple of images from yesterday.

The WKU campus yesterday a few seconds before totality. (White Squirrel Weather)

The Details

Alright, we managed to hold the cold front off one more day to get in the eclipse but we pay today.

Prog chart valid this afternoon. (Weather Prediction Center)

The cold front that brought less than stellar eclipse conditions to parts of the upper midwest yesterday will interact with the hot, sticky air currently in place over south-central Kentucky to produce a chance of severe thunderstorms.

The Hi-Res NAM clearly sees a broken line/cluster of storms for tomorrow evening. (Pivotal Weather)

Winds aloft are right around what we like to see for severe weather and factor in the ample moisture and there’s a decent chance for severe storms today and tonight. The Storm Prediction Center has agreed and placed us in a slight risk for today. Main threats being some damaging straight-line winds and large hail.

(Storm Prediction Center)

Nothing too crazy, but we’ll keep an eye to the sky…again.

Today:  Hot and humid, mostly cloudy skies with strong to severe storms possible in the afternoon and evening. High around 90º. Storms ending overnight but rain chances remain, falling into the lower 70s.

  • Wake up: ⛅️ 75°
  • Lunch hour: ⛅️/⛈ 88°
  • Afternoon plans: ⛈ 89°
  • Evening time: ⛈ 82°

Things begin to turn around for our mid-week.

(Giphy)

The cold front will be completing it’s sweep-through of South-Central Kentucky, leaving just a few more showers behind to start your Wednesday…but it can only go upwards!

I love a good late summer cold front. (Pivotal Weather)

The cold front will finally pass and the clouds will thin…much cooler and drier air will begin to fill in behind the front and will make it feel good to go outside again. Like, really good.

What you’ll be doing when you step out late Wednesday. (Giphy)

Tomorrow:  Mostly cloudy skies with shower chances in the morning before clouds thin later today with lower humidity. Highs near 80º for a much more pleasant Wednesday. Skies continue to clear overnight, falling back near 60º for an overnight low.

  • Wake up: 🌧 68°
  • Lunch hour: 🌧/☁️ 73°
  • Afternoon plans: ⛅️ 80°
  • Evening time: ⛅️ 75°

And it only gets better on Thursday!

(Giphy)

High pressure will firmly be in control and not only does that mean we’ll be keeping the wonderful temperatures and humidity levels but we’ll have sunny skies to boot! What a fantastic day Thursday will be…just have to get past the storms along the cold front first.

Thursday:  Absolutely spectacular! Mostly sunny skies with highs around 80º once again with low humidity. Mostly clear skies overnight as well, falling back to around 60º…with maybe some upper 50s!

  • Wake up: 🌤 60°
  • Lunch hour: 🌤 78°
  • Afternoon plans: 🌤 81°
  • Evening time: 🌤 70°

The Bottomline

  • Some high winds and large hail the main threat with strong storms this afternoon and evening.
  • Shower chances remain early on Wednesday before skies begin to clear.
  • Lower humidity begins to filter in during the day on Wednesday but sets up a spectacular Thursday.
  • Thursday will be perfect. Like, actually perfect.

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 on this afternoon’s severe weather chances.