An impressive spring storm system is taking shape across the Great Plains and Midwest this weekend. Strong thunderstorms will accompany the frontal boundaries and the threat for severe weather looms. The combination of the cold and warm front instability mixed with warm air and moisture will be just what these storms need to develop and sustain. The massive system spans the midsection of the country bringing rain and thunderstorms from the Gulf Coast to the 49th Parallel. Snow showers will also hot portions of the upper United States and Canada.
For Kentucky, we will be getting the warm sector Saturday which will set the stage for the cold front thunderstorms overnight. Temperatures, despite cloud coverage will have a chance to rise into the low to middle 80s this afternoon.
The afternoon highs will be close to records. In Lexington, we should be around 83 degrees for the high temperature, more reminiscent of mid-June. Our daily record high temperature for today is also 83 degrees.
Timing on the line of storms will be late this evening for the Bluegrass and I-75 corridor, and early tomorrow morning for those who live east of I-75. Storms will exit the state a little after 5:00 am Sunday. What makes this event particularly dangerous is the timing. Make sure you have ways to receive weather alerts while sleeping. You’ll want to have time to get in a shelter if a thunderstorm becomes severe or tornadic.
We sit under a “slight” risk of severe storms with that line overnight. A slight risk for severe storms means that some of the thunderstorms may reach severe limits and will be scattered and short-lived.
Highest threats will be damaging wind gusts and hail. An isolated tornado is possible, but the chance is still low. Heavy rain and lightning will be secondary threats.
Rainfall amounts will generally be less than a half-inch.
After the storms leave early Sunday, clouds will decrease, and temperatures remain mild.
