Thursday brought another classic late-July day across Central and Eastern Kentucky with blazing sunshine and plenty of heat. Afternoon highs surged into the upper 80s and low 90s and when you added in the high humidity, many spots felt closer to 100 degrees. Areas west of Lexington even climbed into the 105-degree range for “feels-like” temperatures, making it another day where slowing things down and staying hydrated was the best bet. And if you’re hoping for a big change, you’ll have to wait—this hot and humid stretch is sticking around.
Friday: Another Round of Steamy Summer Weather
Expect a near carbon copy of Thursday to close out the week. Afternoon highs will climb back into the low, and possibly mid-90s, with heat indices easily pushing past 100 degrees again. While most of us will stay dry, the heat and humidity could spark a few isolated storms late in the afternoon or early evening, though they should be very spotty. If you have outdoor plans, use caution during the hottest part of the day, find shade or air conditioning when possible, and drink plenty of water. A Heat Advisory is out until 8pm Friday evening for areas just to the north and west of Lexington. Remember just because your area may not be in the advisory doesn’t mean that the impact of the higher heat indices won’t be felt across the entire region so use caution.
Weekend: Heat Holds Strong, Scattered Storms Return
The hot and humid air mass won’t budge this weekend, keeping things feeling very much like the heart of summer. A weak boundary stalled to our north may help trigger a few more afternoon and evening storms, but coverage will be scattered, meaning many spots will stay dry. Outdoor plans don’t need to be canceled, but packing the rain gear just in case isn’t a bad idea. Highs will hover in the low 90s both days, and “feels-like” temperatures will remain close to that 100-degree mark. Sunscreen, hats, and frequent water breaks will be essential for outdoor events.
Early Next Week: Turning Even Hotter Before a Pattern Shift…