Jackson, Ky. – A rare sky show may unfold tonight as residents in eastern Kentucky look up for the Northern Lights. Skies could shimmer with green and red waves through Tuesday morning, offering a glimpse of a phenomenon rarely seen this far south.
According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, a powerful coronal mass ejection is driving geomagnetic storm conditions capable of pushing auroras deep into the Midwest and Appalachians. If skies remain clear, residents from Jackson to Hazard may spot the aurora overnight. Those hoping to catch a view should head away from city lights and check the sky after midnight.
Closer to the ground, patchy fog will settle across U.S. 421 and other regional roadways by daybreak Tuesday, creating dangerous driving conditions. Motorists should allow extra travel time and use low beams in dense fog pockets. The National Weather Service in Jackson warns of thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon with lightning and heavy downpours possible, mainly between noon and 5 p.m.
By Wednesday, showers and thunderstorms become more widespread. Rainfall totals could reach half an inch in spots, raising concerns for localized flooding in low-lying areas. Showers likely persist through Thursday, keeping roads slick and skies unsettled.
Friday offers a break with sunny skies and highs in the upper 70s, giving Kentuckians a late-summer reprieve before patchy fog returns overnight.
Residents are urged to stay weather-aware, plan for difficult travel in the mornings, and keep an eye on updated advisories.
Five Day Forecast for Jackson, KY
- Tuesday: Fog early, then storms by afternoon. High 77°F.
- Wednesday: Thunderstorms likely, some heavy. High 77°F.
- Thursday: Showers and storms continue. High 74°F.
- Friday: Sunny and dry. High 78°F.
- Saturday: Clear and warmer. High near 77°F.
