textproduct: Jackson

KEY MESSAGES

- Persistent southwest winds, breezy in the afternoons, will continue pushing warmer-than-average and seasonably moist air into eastern Kentucky into the weekend.

- Expect a couple more days with highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s, and mild overnight temperatures bottoming in the 50s and 60s - through Saturday. - Look for daily small chances for showers and storms until a stronger cold front moves through the region Saturday evening and overnight. Cooler temperatures follow for Sunday and the start of the new week.

- Any showers and storms will provide some needed rainfall across portions of eastern Kentucky.

UPDATE

Issued at 720 AM EDT FRI APR 3 2026

No significant changes were made to the forecast with mainly just the inclusion of the latest obs and trends for the T/Td/Sky grids but also a tweaking of the PoPs in the near term per current radar imagery. These minor adjustments have been sent to the NDFD and web servers along with a freshening of the SAFs and zones.

LONG TERM

(Saturday night through Thursday) Issued at 513 AM EDT FRI APR 3 2026

The long term period opens Saturday evening with a cold front on the doorstep of the CWA. Widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected Saturday night, wrapping up with the front passing southeast of the area sometime Sunday morning. Some of these storms could become strong to severe, with gusty winds and hail as the main threats, generally north of the Hal Rogers/KY Highway 80 corridor. A Marginal Risk (Level 1/5)for severe weather was introduced by the Storm Prediction Center highlighting those threats. Dry weather returns through much of Sunday, and the week ahead as high pressure builds back into the region.

Temperatures Saturday night drop into the mid to upper 40s, and warm into the upper 50s to low 60s on Sunday. A gradual warming trend continues through next week, potentially ending in the upper 70s by Thursday. Overnight lows do return to the 30s and 40s through next week, with the coldest night/morning being Tuesday night into Wednesday morning where temperatures could be near freezing (32 degrees). This could lead to frost formation.

AVIATION

(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Saturday afternoon) ISSUED AT 131 PM EDT FRI APR 3 2026

VFR TAFs are present across the area with the 18Z issuance. Lingering shower activity from this morning is starting to move off to the northeast but the environment is favorable for more pop-up showers/storms through 23Z. Gusty winds out of the southwest are starting to develop. Sustained winds around 10 to 15 knots with gusts from 20 to 25 knots will be likely through the afternoon. Showers and storms, along with winds will diminish overnight with clearing skies; however, increasing winds are forecast for the area around 13 to 14Z/Saturday ahead of an approaching cold front.

JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.