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This forecast update covers far southern Illinois, far southeast Missouri, and far western Kentucky. See the coverage map on the right side of the blog.
Remember that weather evolves. Check back frequently for updates, especially during active weather.
The forecast numbers below may vary a bit across the region. These are the averages.
WEATHER RADAR PAGE – Click here —
Sunday night – Partly cloudy. A chance for a few thunderstorms. Best chances over southeast Missouri. Strong storms possible over southeast Missouri. Then another chance for storms late at night over southern Illinois and western Kentucky.
Temperatures: Lows in the 70’s
Winds: Light southerly and southeasterly winds
My confidence in this part of the forecast verifying is medium
Should I cancel my outdoor plans? No
Is severe weather expected? No
What is the chance for precipitation? 40% early in the evening and 40%-60% late at night into early morning hours.
What impact is expected? Any storms that form could produce locally heavy rain, lightning, and gusty winds.
Monday – A mix of sun and clouds. Humid. Scattered thunderstorms possible.
Temperatures: Highs in the upper 80’s to lower 90’s. Heat index values will be warmer.
Winds: Southerly and southwesterly winds at 5-10 mph.
My confidence in this part of the forecast verifying is medium
Should I cancel my outdoor plans? No, but check radars
Is severe weather expected? No
What is the chance for precipitation? 40%-50% during the early morning and then 30%-40% during the afternoon.
What impact is expected? Any storms that form could produce locally heavy rain, lightning, and gusty winds.
Monday night – Partly cloudy. Warm and humid. A slight chance for thunderstorms.
Temperatures: Lows in the 70’s
Winds: Light southerly and southwesterly winds
My confidence in this part of the forecast verifying is medium
Should I cancel my outdoor plans? No
Is severe weather expected? No
What is the chance for precipitation? 20%
What impact is expected? Any storms that form could produce locally heavy rain, lightning, and gusty winds.
Tuesday – Partly cloudy. Warm and humid. A slight chance for thunderstorms.
Temperatures: Highs in the 90’s
Winds: Southerly and southwesterly winds at 5-10 mph.
My confidence in this part of the forecast verifying is medium
Should I cancel my outdoor plans? No
Is severe weather expected? No
What is the chance for precipitation? 20%
What impact is expected? Any storms that form could produce locally heavy rain, lightning, and gusty winds.
Wednesday will bring warm and humid conditions ahead of a cold front. Perhaps some additional storm chances along the front. This will need to be monitored.
NICE by Thursday into next Sunday! Lower temperatures and lower humidity. Woohoo!
Sunrise and Sunset Times – Click Here
Don’t forget to check out the Southern Illinois Weather Observatory web-site for weather maps, tower cams, scanner feeds, radars, and much more! Click here
An explanation of what is happening in the atmosphere over the coming days…
Highlights
1. A few thunderstorm chances, but warm weather will be the main story for a few days.
2. Cooler and less humid by the end of the week.
We had another round of heavy storms on Sunday. Some places picked up more than 1″ of rain. Par for the court for this very wet July. I have picked up more than 7″ of rain at the Weather Observatory in Massac County. Over 14″ across parts of McCracken County, Kentucky.
That disturbance has moved on out of the region.
We have another disturbance to monitor on Sunday evening and night. Could be a few more storms with it, as well. Already watching development of a few heavy storms over southeast Missouri (check the radars)
Warm and humid conditions will be the rule on Monday into Wednesday. A few storms again possible through that time frame as we will be on the northwest side of the upper level high (ridge). But, relief is already on the way!
Check out the dew points on Monday vs Thursday. Much nicer air will arrive in our region by Thursday.
What are dew points? Well, another great question. A lot of people confuse humidity and dew points. I like to use dew points to measure moisture in the air. This is the better way, actually. To learn more about dew points…click here
Here is the Monday afternoon and evening dew point map from weatherbell.com
Those are dew points in the 70’s. Air you wear. Ick.
Now compare to Thursday. Dew points in the 50’s? We can dream. If so, it will feel nice outside.
Temperatures on Thursday into the weekend will top out in the 80’s with lower humidity levels. Should feel nice outside.
I will need to keep an eye on precipitation chances along the cold front Wednesday night into Thursday.
This section of the blog is speculative forecast information. Because it is past the range of what meteorologists can forecast accurately, it should be considered speculation. Anything past day 5 is considered a long range forecast.
Highlights
1. August will likely bring quite a few days with below normal temperatures and above normal precipitaton
Our northwest flow is about to return and perhaps in a big way. Northwest flow typically brings below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. Just like most of July. Yes, it was hot at times in July, but much of the month we recorded below normal temperatures for daytime highs. The overnight lows skewed the numbers a bit. And, that was because of all of the moisture in the ground!
Here are the official numbers for Paducah. Where you see the blue color…temperatures were at or below normal during the Month of July.
The July forecast, if you remember, was for above normal precipitation in the Missouri and Ohio Valley.
Here is the latest month to date rainfall map from weatherbell.com To say that it has been wet is an understatement.
How many days in July recorded 0.01″ of rain or more? Check out Texas. What a difference a month or two makes. Remember when Texas and Oklahoma were flooding?
About a month ago it appeared we would have to deal with heat around the first part of August. It appears that heat will show up over the next few days. Likely until Wednesday. We might dip below normal in the temperature department as early as Thursday. Definitely by the weekend.
Moving ahead to August.
Check out the GFS for August. Check out the jet stream diving south and east into our region.
GFS is not my favorite model in the world. It often times does not have a weather clue. Actually ranks on the bottom of my choices when it comes to models.
With that said, it does have some support from other data sets. So, I will show you what it has come up with for the first part of August.
Northwest flow.
Images are from wright-weather.com
The colors represent wind speed. Red colors are higher wind speeds. See how the winds aloft dive in from the northwest?
The above image is for August 1st
The below image is for August 4th. If this occurs then we can expect some heavy thunderstorm chances from time to time, as well. MCS season isn’t over, apparently. MCS’s are large thunderstorm complexes.
Then the image below is for August 5th
Then the image below is for August 8th
then the image below is for August 9th
Let’s take a look at some weatherbell.com maps for temperature anomalies for the first part of August (and then the rest of August)
This first map is for July 30th through August 4th. You can see that temperatures should average below normal (once all the days are added together).
Then for August 1st through August 6th. You can see the cool is weighted past the July 30th time frame. More into August.
And, moving even further ahead. Check out these numbers. Much of August could end up below normal in the temperature department. Images are from weatherbell.com
Radars
WEATHER RADAR PAGE – Click here —
I also set up a storm tracking page with additional links (use during active weather for quick reference)
Storm Tracking Tool Page
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How much precipitation should we expect over the next few days?
Any storms that form could produce a downpour. At least a chance for some additional precipitation on Sunday evening and night. Locally heavy rain if storms form.
Most of the area should be dry on Monday and Tuesday. Where storms do form there could once again be some heavy downpours. Summer!
Can we expect severe thunderstorms over the next 24 to 48 hours? Remember that a severe thunderstorm is defined as a thunderstorm that produces 58 mph winds or higher, quarter size hail or larger, and/or a tornado.
Thunderstorms threat level is ONE/TWO for Sunday night into Monday.
Monday: Not expecting severe weather. I can’t rule out some scattered storms.
Tuesday: Not expecting severe weather. Small chance for a storm.
Wednesday: Not expecting severe weather. I can’t rule out some scattered storms.
Thursday: Not expecting severe weather.
Some warm and humid days this week. Several days with temperatures in the 90’s and heat index values above 100. Use care in the summer heat.
Here are the current river stage forecasts. You can click your state and then the dot for your location. It will bring up the full forecast and hydrograph.
Click Here For River Stage Forecasts…
Here are some current forecast hydrographs. These will be updated each day with new information.
Smithland Lock and Dam
Paducah, Kentucky Forecast Stage
Cairo, Illinois
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Current Temperatures Around The Local Area
We have regional radars and local city radars – if a radar does not seem to be updating then try another one. Occasional browsers need their cache cleared. You may also try restarting your browser. That usually fixes the problem. Occasionally we do have a radar go down. That is why I have duplicates. Thus, if one fails then try another one.
If you have any problems then please send me an email beaudodson@usawx.com
WEATHER RADAR PAGE – Click here —
We also have a new national interactive radar – you can view that radar by clicking here.
Local interactive city radars include St Louis, Mt Vernon, Evansville, Poplar Bluff, Cape Girardeau, Marion, Paducah, Hopkinsville, Memphis, Nashville, Dyersburg, and all of eastern Kentucky – these are interactive radars. Local city radars – click here
NOTE: Occasionally you will see ground clutter on the radar (these are false echoes). Normally they show up close to the radar sites – including Paducah.
Regional Radar – Click on radar to take you our full radar page.
Regional Radar
Live Lightning Data – zoom and pan: Click here
Live Lightning Data with sound (click the sound button on the left side of the page): Click here
I also set up a storm tracking page with additional links (use during active weather for quick reference)
Storm Tracking Tool Page
Current WARNINGS (a warning means take action now). Click on your county to drill down to the latest warning information. Keep in mind that there can be a 2-3 minute delay in the updated warning information.
I strongly encourage you to use a NOAA Weather Radio or warning cell phone app for the most up to date warning information. Nothing is faster than a NOAA weather radio.
Color shaded counties are under some type of watch, warning, advisory, or special weather statement. Click your county to view the latest information.
Missouri Warnings
Illinois Warnings
Kentucky Warnings
Here is the official 6-10 day and 8-14 day temperature and precipitation outlook. Check the date stamp at the top of each image (so you understand the time frame).
The forecast maps below are issued by the Weather Prediction Center (NOAA).
The latest 8-14 day temperature and precipitation outlook. Note the dates are at the top of the image. These maps DO NOT tell you how high or low temperatures or precipitation will be. They simply give you the probability as to whether temperatures or precipitation will be above or below normal.
Who do you trust for your weather information and who holds them accountable?
I have studied weather in our region since the late 1970’s. I have 37 years of experience in observing our regions weather patterns. My degree is in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University and an Associate of Science (AS). I am currently working on my Bachelor’s Degree in Geoscience. Just need to finish two Spanish classes!
I am a member of the American Meteorological Society. I am a NOAA Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador. And, I am the Meteorologist for McCracken County Emergency Management.
I own and operate the Southern Illinois Weather Observatory.
There is a lot of noise on the internet. A lot of weather maps are posted without explanation. Over time you should learn who to trust for your weather information.
My forecast philosophy is simple and straight forward.
- Communicate in simple terms
- To be as accurate as possible within a reasonable time frame before an event
- Interact with you on Twitter, Facebook, and the blog
- Minimize the “hype” that you might see on television or through other weather sources
- Push you towards utilizing wall-to-wall LOCAL TV coverage during severe weather events
I am a recipient of the Mark Trail Award, WPSD Six Who Make A Difference Award, Kentucky Colonel, and the Caesar J. Fiamma” Award from the American Red Cross. In 2009 I was presented with the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety Award. I was recognized by the Kentucky House of Representatives for my service to the State of Kentucky leading up to several winter storms and severe weather outbreaks.
If you click on the image below you can read the Kentucky House of Representatives Resolution.
I am also President of the Shadow Angel Foundation which serves portions of western Kentucky and southern Illinois.
Many of my graphics are from www.weatherbell.com – a great resource for weather data, model data, and more
You can sign up for my AWARE email by clicking here I typically send out AWARE emails before severe weather, winter storms, or other active weather situations. I do not email watches or warnings. The emails are a basic “heads up” concerning incoming weather conditions.
