PADUCAH, Ky. – A sharp overnight temperature drop will bring widespread frost potential to parts of western Kentucky, southern Illinois, and southwest Indiana tonight, with the National Weather Service issuing a Frost Advisory primarily along and north of I-64. The chill will mark one of the coldest nights of the season so far, threatening tender vegetation across agricultural and residential areas.
According to the National Weather Service Paducah office, temperatures are expected to fall into the mid to upper 30s from 3 to 9 a.m. CDT Thursday morning. Residents are urged to cover sensitive plants and bring potted flowers indoors to prevent frost damage. The advisory includes Evansville, Mount Vernon, and parts of southeast Illinois, where early morning frost could linger past sunrise.
While cold air settles in overnight, breezy daytime conditions will continue to pose an elevated fire danger. The NWS notes that westerly winds of 10–15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph, combined with relative humidity levels as low as 20–30%, will create conditions ripe for grassland fires across much of the region. Outdoor burning is discouraged, and residents should avoid discarding cigarettes or operating equipment that could produce sparks.
Another frosty morning is possible Friday, especially across the northeast half of the region, before a gradual warming trend returns into the weekend.
