PADUCAH, Kentucky – Streetlights glimmer over quiet neighborhoods early this morning as a mild breeze sweeps through the Ohio Valley. It’s another calm, golden start for western Kentucky — but this stretch of picture-perfect fall weather won’t last much longer.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, temperatures will climb into the lower 70s again Thursday under mostly sunny skies. Winds from the southwest will increase late in the day, drawing in more moisture ahead of an approaching cold front. The change arrives Friday, bringing showers and isolated thunderstorms to much of the region, especially along I-24 and Highway 60 corridors.
Rain chances rise sharply through midday Friday, with some brief downpours possible before conditions taper by evening. Winds may gust up to 25 mph during the height of the system, creating slick roads and slower travel for commuters and freight haulers crossing between Kentucky and southern Illinois. Rainfall totals should remain light to moderate, around a quarter inch, but it marks a clear shift toward more unsettled November weather.
Behind the front, skies clear for the weekend as cooler, drier air settles in. Saturday and Sunday will feel seasonable, with daytime highs in the upper 60s and crisp lows near 40 degrees — perfect for late-fall outdoor plans or early holiday decorating. However, long-range patterns suggest a colder push may arrive by Veterans Day next week, possibly ushering in the first true taste of winter air across the lower Midwest.
Five-Day Forecast for Paducah, KY:
Wed: 72/49 – Sunny and mild; southwest breeze to 15 mph.
Thu: 68/52 – Partly cloudy; warmer late.
Fri: 73/45 – Showers likely; gusty winds, brief thunder.
Sat: 70/41 – Mostly sunny; cooler and pleasant.
Sun: 63/40 – Mostly sunny; crisp fall air continues.
