Somerset, Kentucky 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

081
FXUS63 KJKL 261855
AFDJKL

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Jackson KY
255 PM EDT Thu Mar 26 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Temperatures will soar to 15 to 20 degrees above normal today. A
  strong cold front will then bring widespread showers and the
  possibility of a few thunderstorms on Friday.

- Much colder air returns behind the cold front for the weekend,
  bringing the potential for widespread sub-freezing temperatures
  by Saturday morning.

- Significant warming takes place next week, with the potential
  for several consecutive days near or above 80 degrees for highs.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday night)
Issued at 255 PM EDT THU MAR 26 2026

A mix of sun and clouds remain across the region as earlier shower
activity has cleared the area to the east. Temperatures around
Eastern Kentucky have risen into the upper 70s and low 80s. This is
some 15-20 degrees above normal temperatures for this time of year.
Jackson is within a few degrees of its record high of 81 which was
established in 2007. Winds have gusted to 25-30 mph out of the
southwest and will remain elevated well into the overnight hours
before slowly diminishing.

As a surface low progresses away from the Great Lakes and into
Northern Quebec, a trailing cold front will extend southwest through
New England, the Great Lakes, and back through Mid-Mississippi
Valley. This cold front is expected to produce strong to severe
storms across the northern Ohio Valley before slowly progressing
southeast towards the Commonwealth overnight. With the cold front
moving into a less favorable environment for storms, the frontal
passage will be accompanied by mostly showers, with a few embedded
rumbles of thunder (nothing severe) and a decent drop in temperature
behind the front. This frontal passage looks to move into northern
portions of the CWA sometime early Friday morning, likely around
sunrise. With the environment remaining mixed through the night,
temperatures may stay elevated in the upper 50s to mid 60s ahead of
the approaching cold front.

These showers will move across the area from northwest to
southeast, with colder and drier air working into the region
behind the front. While not as strong as some of the previous cold
fronts Eastern Kentucky has seen, this one will still drop
temperatures through the morning and afternoon. High temperatures
ranging fro the low 50s in the north to upper 60s further south
will likely occur early in the morning. By 18Z (2 PM EDT),
temperatures may range from the mid to upper 40s across the I- 64
corridor and low 50s to mid 60s south. The area will generally see
0.25 to 0.50 inches of rainfall through Friday.

Friday evening, temperatures continue to cool on the back end of a
trough, with much of the area either in the upper 20s to low 30s. A
Freeze Watch has been issued for Friday evening through Saturday
morning to account for sub-freezing temperatures in the growing
season. Any crops or sensitive vegetation left outside, such as
strawberries could be at risk. Temperatures could also possibly
damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.


.LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday)
Issued at 209 PM EDT THU MAR 26 2026

Aloft, a strong yet low-amplitude ridge builds in from the east
through early next week, with west-southwesterly flow over the
region through the middle of next week as the ridge then strengthens
over the western Atlantic. At the surface, high pressure moves east-
southeast across the area during the day Saturday, with
southwesterly surface winds developing by Sunday as low pressure
becomes established on the Central Great Plains but moves little
through much of the next week. A series of warm fronts will push
across the area, with the first overnight Saturday night, followed
by additional surges of warmer and more humid air northeast,
especially west of the Cumberland Plateau.

After a chilly Saturday, temperatures begin a significant upwards
trend through mid-week (and possibly beyond), with some uncertainty
for the second half of next week with the possible arrival of a cold
front, though this is extremely low confidence. Temperatures will be
as much as 15 to 20 degrees for much of the early to mid-week
period, with highs in the 80s likely by Tuesday and continuing
through at least the middle of next week.

Dry conditions are expected this weekend, with north to northeast
winds Saturday, and continued low humidity into Sunday as winds veer
around to the southwest. Humidity likely modifies significantly
Monday as a warm front moves northeast across the region, and this
will result in the introduction of the chance of showers and storms,
especially toward the Ohio River. This front may stall and allow for
showers and thunderstorm activity to persist into early Tuesday, but
the region likely returns to dry weather for a time Tuesday into
Wednesday before PoPs return to the 20 to 40 percent range again for
the middle of next week as shortwaves graze the Ohio River Valley on
the northwest side of strong downstream upper ridging over the
western Atlantic.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon)
ISSUED AT 218 PM EDT THU MAR 26 2026

VFR conditions will continue through the first half of the TAF
period with breezy southwest winds at all terminals. Gusts could
and have already gusted to 25-30 kts. These winds are expected to
remain elevated well into the overnight, slowly diminishing
towards 09Z. If breezy conditions are not occurring at the TAF
sites prior to 12Z expect LLWS. The type of shear would be speed
shear ahead of a larger directional wind shift from an approaching
cold front. Reduced ceilings and visibility will occur with
showers towards the end of the TAF period. Flight categories will
likely drop into MVFR with periods of IFR possible in a heavier
shower or storm.

&&

.JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Freeze Watch from late Friday night through Saturday morning for
KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083-104-106>117-119.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...GINNICK
LONG TERM...CMC
AVIATION...GINNICK