LEXINGTON, Ky. – Today marks a warm and breezy Election Day throughout central and eastern Kentucky. Voters can expect dry conditions while the polls are open, but forecasted rain will arrive later tonight into Wednesday.
The region is set to experience high temperatures nearing 80 degrees today, following the recent record of 80 degrees in Lexington on Monday, an occurrence that is only the 12th time in November since record keeping began in 1872. This is poised to potentially break today’s daily record high of 79 degrees. Wind gusts could reach 30 mph during midday, contributing to the warm feel of the day.
After polls close, the weather will shift as significant rain moves into the area, primarily affecting central and northern Kentucky. Heaviest rainfall is expected throughout the morning hours, tapering off to scattered showers by the afternoon. With a frontal boundary stalling over the region, rain chances will also persist into Thursday.
Temperatures on Thursday will vary significantly, with cooler conditions in the north and warmer weather in the south. As the rain subsides late Thursday into Friday, another system is anticipated for the weekend, with potential tropical moisture on the horizon.
A tropical system, named Rafael, is expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico towards the end of the week. Forecast models present varying predictions on its trajectory, with most suggesting a northward path that would interact with weather systems affecting the Tennessee and Ohio valleys over the weekend, bringing widespread rain and potentially heavy downpours.
The European Model is an outlier, indicating that much of the moisture might remain in the Gulf. This divergence in predictions is critical as meteorologists prepare for possible impacts. Weather experts will continue to monitor the situation closely as the week unfolds.
Forecast Summary:
- Tuesday (Election Day): Mostly sunny to partly cloudy, warm with highs near 80 degrees.
- Tuesday Night: Rain begins, heavy at times in central Kentucky, with lows around mid-60s.
- Wednesday: Continued rain and storms likely, with highs in the low 70s.
Stay tuned for further updates as conditions evolve.
