Rainy Relief is Here

Needless to say, it's hot today! Bowling Green had already made it to 90° by 2:30 PM with many locations in south-central Kentucky reporting the same. It may not be the most humid afternoon, but the heat index may extend to the mid 90s as an influx of moisture heads our way this afternoon and evening. Higher dewpoints are advancing ahead of a cold front, so while we will get some relief from the heat after the passage of the cold front, don't be surprised if this afternoon gets a bit steamier.

Speaking of relief, how about that cold front? Low pressure is churning over Missouri and moving east. It has a lot of moisture associated with it, bringing widespread rain to the Central Mississippi Valley along with a few thunderstorms. It's knocking on the door of Kentucky and will progress through the Commonwealth as the afternoon and evening goes on. This system is not the fastest mover, but there is a lot of rain to wring out before it's done. Expect the rain to arrive in Bowling Green sometime around 7-9 PM. In other words, near sundown.

With much of south-central Kentucky labeled in a moderate drought by the US Drought Monitor, this rain is certainly welcome. The heaviest amounts will stay along the Mississippi River but we may see a half to three-quarters of an inch of precipitation by tomorrow morning. The first band of showers and storms is evident on radar, but upper-level impulses may trigger additional waves through tonight as the low crosses into the Ohio Valley.

Precipitation totals through tomorrow morning as forecast by the hi-res NAM

This complex will be rather persistent over the next 36 to 48 hours. The low will slowly traverse the area from west to east. It looks like we're in for a soggy Friday, as tonight's pattern repeats itself tomorrow. Look for another scattering of showers and thundershowers with highs in the mid 80s (that's the cold front in action). We'll be left with residual showers for Saturday as the system finally pulls away. This will likely put a damper on outdoor activities, but our agriculture surely could use some moisture right now.

Tonight: Mainly cloudy with a 70% chance of showers and thundershowers. A low of 71°. Winds from the west becoming calm.
Friday: Showers with a few thunderstorms. 80% chance of rain with a high around 84°. South winds at 5-10 mph.
Friday night: Rain continues with mostly cloudy skies. Low near 72°. A 70% chance of precipitation. Rainfall amounts through this period may total up to an inch.

Thanks for reading!
- Caleb Chevalier