PADUCAH – Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Paducah say high temperatures will reach near record values in the upper 60s to near 70 degrees today ahead of a cold front that will spread showers and thunderstorms across our area, primarily after sunset.

A few of these storms may become severe and produce sporadic damaging winds gusts and a tornado or two. Timing for any severe storms is this evening into the overnight, translating from west to east across the area.

Southerly winds will be rather gusty even outside of thunderstorms, occasionally gusting 30 to 40 mph from this afternoon into tonight.

After a lull on Friday, more rain is forecast Friday night and may linger into Saturday morning. A few rumbles of  thunder can’t be ruled out across west Kentucky.

Much colder air funnels into our region this weekend, especially Sunday. The coldest temperatures of the period are forecast Sunday night, when there is roughly a 75-90% chance of temperatures falling into the lower half of the 20s.