Louisville, Ky. – Much of Kentucky faces a dangerous window of severe weather from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, with tornadoes, destructive winds, and large hail all possible during the late afternoon and evening commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Louisville, the atmosphere is expected to destabilize by early afternoon Friday, triggering strong to severe thunderstorms across western Kentucky first, then racing east into Louisville, Lexington, and surrounding cities through the evening. The most severe activity is expected between 6–11 p.m. for central and eastern Kentucky.
Areas under a Level 4 (Moderate Risk) include Bowling Green, Owensboro, and Paducah, where wind gusts may exceed 74 mph and hail could reach two inches in diameter. Cities such as Lexington, Elizabethtown, and Richmond face a Level 3 risk, with a 30% chance of damaging winds and significant hail. Tornado probabilities across the state range from 5% to 10%, especially in central counties.
Travel is discouraged during peak storm hours. Residents should secure outdoor items, review tornado safety plans, and charge electronic devices in case of outages. Emergency alerts may be issued with little warning.
Storms are expected to clear by early Saturday morning, but additional advisories may be issued as new data develops.
