Kentucky starts the morning wrapped in thick gray fog, headlights glowing through damp air across western counties.
Dense fog sits over Paducah early, cutting visibility to around one-half mile in spots. The National Weather Service has a Dense Fog Advisory in effect through mid-morning, and drivers should expect sudden visibility drops on bridges and low-lying roads.
Pavement remains wet from drizzle, and calm winds allow fog to linger longer than usual. Slow down, use low-beam headlights, and allow extra space if driving before conditions improve.
Once fog lifts, the day turns unusually mild. Highs climb into the low 70s, far above normal for late December. Skies remain mostly cloudy, but travel conditions improve quickly after mid-morning.
Christmas Day stays warm and quiet. Afternoon temperatures again approach 70 degrees, making it feel more like early fall than the first week of winter. For now, winter gear can stay packed away.
That changes heading into the weekend.
By Sunday, rain chances increase as a stronger system moves through. Behind it, colder air pushes in fast. Sunday night may bring a rain-to-snow mix, especially as temperatures fall toward freezing. While accumulation looks limited, timing matters for drivers returning home.
Early next week, winter makes a firmer statement. Highs drop into the 30s, and overnight lows fall into the teens. Any moisture left on roads could refreeze, creating black ice, especially during early-morning travel.
Meteorologists are watching the sharp temperature swing closely. Warm afternoons followed by rapid cooling raise flash-freezing concerns, even without heavy precipitation.
If you’re planning post-Christmas travel, Sunday evening into early Monday could be the most impactful window.
💬 Driving later this weekend? What conditions are you seeing on your route?
📅 Five-Day Outlook — Paducah, KY
- Today: Dense fog early, then cloudy. High 71°F
- Christmas Day: Partly sunny, very warm. High 71°F
- Thursday: Mostly cloudy. High 60°F
- Friday: Partly sunny, warm. High 72°F
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy. High 72°F
