Weather News

‘All hazards are possible!’ Much of Kentucky is at risk of incoming severe weather

A potentially severe storm is expected to hit Kentucky beginning Wednesday, and it brings with it the possibility of several severe weather hazards.

The storm is expected to arrive late Wednesday evening and should last until Thursday afternoon. The National Weather Service said “all hazards are possible” from the storm, with the greatest threats being damaging wind gusts and hail.

South-central Kentucky is expected to face the highest possibility for severe weather, but all areas of western and Central Kentucky are under some sort of enhanced risk from the storm, according to the NWS.

The NWS has labeled one section of Kentucky under enhanced risk from the storm while the farthest Western Kentucky counties and most of Central Kentucky are under slight risk. The enhanced risk section stretches east of Owensboro and west of Harrodsburg and includes Frankfort, Louisville, Bowling Green and Elizabethtown in between.

WKYT meteorologist Jim Caldwell said wind gusts could reach 30 miles per hour Wednesday in his forecast. Additionally, Caldwell is expecting two waves of thunderstorms throughout Thursday, which could bring heavier wind gusts, hail and possibly an isolated tornado.

Prior to the storm’s arrival, temperatures will rise to the mid-70s Wednesday afternoon, potentially reaching a mark that hasn’t been seen on this day since 1945, according to the NWS.

This story was originally published February 15, 2023 at 10:35 AM.

Christopher Leach
Lexington Herald-Leader
Chris Leach is a breaking news reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader. He joined the newspaper in September 2021 after previously working with the Anderson News and the Cats Pause. Chris graduated from UK in December 2018. Support my work with a digital subscription
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