Severe Thunderstorm Threat From the Central Plains to the Northeast; Extreme HeatRisk for the East Coast

Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible from the central Plains to the Northeast through this evening. Widespread damaging winds are the primary threat but hail and a tornado or two is also possible. Extremely dangerous heat continues across the Eastern U.S. Warm overnight low temperatures will provide little to no relief. Read More >

...DRIEST MONTH ON RECORD AT LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE...

...HOTTEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD AT LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE...

...2ND DRIEST MONTH, 2ND DRIEST SEPTEMBER, 2ND HOTTEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD AT FRANKFORT...

...10TH DRIEST MONTH, 4TH DRIEST SEPTEMBER, 3RD HOTTEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD AT BOWLING GREEN...

Persistent domes of high pressure aloft and at the surface led to a historically hot and dry month. By the end of the month severe drought had set in across parts of central Kentucky, and wildfires were becoming a concern. The level of the Kentucky River near Frankfort had fallen so low (3% of its normal flow) that residents in municipalities that used the river water for use in homes were complaining of a foul taste to the water. Burn bans were put into effect for most central Kentucky and southern Indiana counties. It was decided in late September that the Battle of Perryville commemoration, which normally takes place on the first weekend in October, would be canceled due to the dryness and fire danger. Soil and crop moisture content were very low. From the 16th to the 22nd the state of Kentucky received just 6% of its normal rainfall. Out of the entire month, rain fell at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington for a total of just 73 minutes on four different days.

On the plus side, there was no severe weather during the month.

	Average Temperature	Departure from Normal	Precipitation	Departure from Normal
Bowling Green	78.3°	+8.2°	0.21"	-3.72"
Frankfort	75.3°	+7.7°	0.08"	-3.25"
Lexington	77.5°	+9.4°	T	-2.91"
Louisville Bowman	77.2°	+7.6°	0.21"	-2.95"
Louisville Muhammad Ali	79.7°	+8.7°	0.04"	-3.01"

Records

10th: High of 100° at Lexington, high of 99° at Louisville
11th: Warm low of 71° at Bowling Green, high of 95° at Lexington, warm low of 74° at Lexington, high of 97° at Louisville, warm low of 77° at Louisville
12th: Warm low of 75° at Louisville
13th: High of 97° at Louisville
16th: High of 95° at Lexington, high of 98° at Louisville
27th: High of 94° at Frankfort, high of 94° at Lexington, high of 95° at Louisville
28th: Warm low of 72° at Bowling Green, high of 95° at Frankfort, warm low of 70° at Frankfort, high of 96° at Lexington, warm low of 73° at Lexington, high of 95° at Louisville, warm low of 77° at Louisville
29th: High of 96° at Frankfort, warm low of 72° at Louisville
30th: High of 97° at Bowling Green, high of 97° at Lexington, high of 98° at Louisville

Bowling Green: 3rd hottest September, 4th driest September, 10th driest month
Frankfort: 2nd hottest September, 2nd driest September, 2nd driest month
Lexington: Hottest September, driest September, driest month
Louisville: Hottest September, driest September, driest month

Louisville sunset