NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — Don’t turn off the A/C just yet. October is starting with a blast of summer heat across the lower Ohio Valley and Tennessee Valley. Ahead of an approaching cold front, afternoon highs on Thursday, October 1 are forecast to reach 93 degrees in Bowling Green, Kentucky and Murfreesboro, Tennessee, with Louisville, Cincinnati, Lexington, Memphis and Chattanooga all hitting around 90 degrees. The heat will not last long, though, as temperatures cool to more seasonable levels heading into the weekend.
Summer Heat on the First Day of October
The hottest temperatures on Thursday are centered in a large zone stretching from southeast Missouri and western Tennessee across Kentucky and into southwest Ohio. Highs of 90 to 93 degrees are expected across much of this area by 5 PM EDT.
For early October, when typical highs in many of these cities are in the mid to upper 70s, that is roughly 10 to 15 degrees above normal.
Tennessee Cities Among the Hottest
In Middle Tennessee, Murfreesboro is forecast to reach about 93 degrees, with the Nashville area in the same hot zone. Clarksville sits near the Kentucky line in the heart of the heat.
Farther west, Jackson and Memphis are expected to hit around 91 degrees, while Chattanooga reaches about 90 degrees. Knoxville runs slightly cooler at around 88 degrees, with the mountains keeping Bristol and Asheville closer to 82 degrees.
Kentucky Bakes From Bowling Green to Lexington
In Kentucky, Bowling Green is forecast to be one of the hottest spots in the region at 93 degrees. Paducah is expected to reach 91 degrees, while Louisville and Lexington both climb to around 90 degrees.
Cincinnati and Southern Indiana Near 90
The heat stretches north into Cincinnati, where highs are expected near 90 degrees. Across the Ohio River, Evansville, Indiana is forecast to reach 91 degrees, while Bloomington and Indianapolis top out around 86 degrees…