261 FXUS63 KLMK 151909 AFDLMKArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Louisville KY 309 PM EDT Mon Sep 15 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
* Mostly dry weather is expected over the next week, with ongoing abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions likely to persist.
* Temperatures will be unseasonably warm with highs in the upper 80s to the lower 90s.
* Rain chances return for the weekend, but rainfall amounts are expected to be light.
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.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/... Issued at 309 PM EDT Mon Sep 15 2025
In the upper levels, an Omega Block remains in place with ridging centered over the Midwest and Great Lakes. The ridge aloft is being squeezed by an upper level trough over ND/MN and a closed low over the Carolinas. A long sfc boundary extends southeast over portions of the MS Valley and Lower OH Valley. Low-level convergence, if any, is weak across a modest moisture/instability gradient in central KY and southern IN.
A healthy SCT cumulus field has developed this afternoon, with sfc temps pushing into the upper 80s and lower 90s. Vertical development has been limited by drier, subsident air aloft. The mid/upper level ridge centered just off to the north will continue to exert its influence through the short term period. And we`re just not seeing significant low-level moisture transport into the region, either, with the main moisture plume well off to our west through portions of MO, IA, and WI. Mainly dry conditions will continue, though a few small, isolated showers will be possible this afternoon and early evening. Likewise, a few isolated showers will also be possible Tuesday afternoon, mainly across south-central Kentucky where we`ll have slightly more moisture to work with. But will keep PoPs below 15% at this time, so continuing with a dry forecast.
Tonight, skies will be partly cloudy with just some thin cirrus streaming west from the upper low over the Carolinas. It`ll be mild, with lows mostly in the 60-65 degree range. We`ll continue to see SCT-BKN cirrus stream east to west on Tuesday, which may have a small impact on afternoon highs. But expect another warm afternoon, with highs in the 86-91 degree range.
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.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... Issued at 309 PM EDT Mon Sep 15 2025
===== Tuesday Night through Thursday Night =====
Mid and upper level ridging will remain in place over the Midwest and Lower OH Valley through this period while gradually deamplifying with time. Light NE flow continues through a portion of the lower to mid-levels, and the airmass dries out a bit with PW dipping below 1.0 inch. Expect dry conditions to continue, with morning lows ranging from the mid 50s to lower 60s. Highs on Wednesday will reach the mid 80s to around 90, with upper 80s and lower 90s on Thursday.
===== Friday through Sunday =====
The mid/upper level ridge axis moves overhead on Friday as an upper level trough starts to move from the central Plains across the Midwest. This trough upstream will eventually bring us some light rain chances over the weekend, but we`ll stay dry through at least Friday. Look for another hot day, with highs mostly in the lower 90s.
We should see a pair of upper level shortwave troughs slide east- northeast across portions of the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Canada this weekend. It does appear the better forcing and moisture will stay to our north, but we`ll see at least modest moisture advection via S/SW flow. Isolated to scattered showers and storms will be possible both Saturday and Sunday, though confidence in detailed timing/amounts is low at this time range.
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 146 PM EDT Mon Sep 15 2025
VFR conditions continue during this TAF period with light easterly winds. SCT cu near 7 kft will diminish with sunset this evening, but we`ll see high cirrus spread overhead from east to west tonight. A few isolated showers will be possible over the next 24-30 hours, but the probability of SHRA at a terminal is quite low (5-10%).
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.LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KY...Air Quality Alert until midnight EDT Tuesday night for KYZ029>031. IN...Air Quality Alert from midnight EDT /11 PM CDT/ tonight to midnight EDT /11 PM CDT/ Tuesday night for INZ076-083-084- 089. Air Quality Alert until midnight EDT Tuesday night for INZ077>079-090>092.
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SHORT TERM...EBW LONG TERM...EBW AVIATION...EBW
NWS LMK Office Area Forecast Discussion