Paducah, KY – Unseasonably warm and breezy conditions across western Kentucky will give way to active and rapidly changing weather beginning Sunday, followed by a sharp return to winter cold early next week.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, temperatures will remain well above normal this weekend, with highs climbing into the upper 60s to lower 70s. Record or near-record warmth is possible before a strong cold front moves through Sunday afternoon and evening.
As the front arrives, the entire Quad State region is under a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe weather. Forecasters say there is a good chance for showers and a few thunderstorms, with damaging wind gusts identified as the primary hazard. A brief spin-up tornado is also possible, though the overall severe threat remains limited.
Rain and storms are expected to move quickly through the area Sunday afternoon into the evening, with rainfall ending overnight as much colder air moves in behind the front.
By Monday, temperatures will be dramatically lower. Forecast highs will struggle through the 30s, with overnight lows dropping into the teens and lower 20s. Gusty winds behind the front will produce single-digit wind chill values Monday and Tuesday, creating the coldest conditions of the season so far.
The National Weather Service urges residents to secure loose outdoor items, remain weather-aware Sunday afternoon, and prepare for the sudden cold by protecting pets, plants, and exposed pipes. Motorists should also be cautious of rapidly changing conditions from warm and wet to cold and windy.
Temperatures are expected to slowly moderate later in the week, but winter-like conditions will dominate the early part of the workweek.
