The late July heat and humidity kept its grip on Central and Eastern Kentucky Friday as sunshine dominated much of the day. Afternoon highs climbed into the low and even mid-90s in some locations, and with a light southwest breeze pulling in extra moisture, heat index values once again surged over the 100-degree mark. A few spots west of Lexington likely felt closer to 105 degrees. Unfortunately, this stagnant summer pattern doesn’t look to be going anywhere fast as we head into the final weekend of July.
Weekend: Hot, Humid, and a Few Storms
The weekend forecast won’t offer much relief as the hot and sticky conditions stay locked in over the Ohio Valley. A weak stalled-out boundary sitting to our north will serve as the main focus for the better storm chances, but a few isolated to scattered storms could drift into the commonwealth, especially during the afternoon and early evening hours. Don’t cancel any outdoor plans, but keep the rain gear handy just in case. With lots of events happening outside this time of year, make sure to drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and find some shade when you can. Highs will stay in the low 90s, and with the added humidity, “feels-like” temperatures will hover around the century mark for many of us. A Heat Advisory is out for areas north and west of Lexington through Sunday evening at 8pm Eastern so keep that in mind.
Early Next Week: Heating Up Before a Pattern Change
As we move into early next week, the upper-level ridge will strengthen over the Ohio Valley, which means storm chances will remain low with just a few isolated pop-ups here and there. However, that also means the heat may crank up even more. Afternoon highs will stay in the low to mid-90s, and with the humidity staying high, heat index values could creep well into the danger zone, topping 100 degrees for several locations.
Relief Possible by Mid-Week…