textproduct: Louisville

KEY MESSAGES

* A clipper system will move through today, bringing light snow showers before transitioning to rain.

* Thursday, northwest flow brings another shot of light rain showers.

* Temperatures warm each day and reach the 70s and 80s by the weekend.

* A cold front late weekend will bring another chance for showers and storms.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 338 AM EDT Wed Mar 18 2026

High pressure is steadily pushing off to the east and light surface winds are veering to the south. Aloft, a shortwave trough is moving through the region bringing a weak clipper system. Snow is currently falling out of a 8-10kft cloud deck and through dry lower levels. We will mostly see virga over the next few hours. As the column moistens and the better forcing along the trough enters the region, we will begin to see snow at the surface. Looking to see some flurries to a light dusting on the ground. Southerly surface flow will pick up mid-morning and WAA will lead to increasing temperatures. Snow will begin to transition to light rain in the early afternoon. Clouds will begin to push NE during the afternoon and we will see a good amount of clearing by the late afternoon. We will see a gradient of high temperatures in the SW in the mid 50s and the NE in the mid 40s.

During the first half of the overnight we will see mostly clear skies and light winds. This will allow for temperatures to fall into the mid-upper 30s for lows.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 338 AM EDT Wed Mar 18 2026

On Thursday, another weak clipper system will move through the Ohio Valley bringing light rain chances in the afternoon. Best chances for precip will be over the northern half of the region. Highs on Thursday will warm into the 60s for most of the region.

The warming trend will continue on Thursday and into the weekend. Highs on Saturday and Sunday will be in the upper 70s and low 80s. A cold front is progged to drop south as a low pressure system moves across southern Canada. This will be the next chance for showers and some storms. Timing on this cold front remains uncertain as there is much variance between Sunday and Monday timing in long range guidance. Since yesterday, the EFI signal for CAPE has increased and LREF cluster analysis continues to show some CAPE within the region as the cold front approaches. Will continue to monitor this over the next few forecast periods.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 639 AM EDT Wed Mar 18 2026

A weak clipper system will move into the region from the northwest, bringing light snow. This snow will be falling out of a 5-6kft deck and low level dry air will help to evaporate most of the precip. Occasionally, VIS may drop to 5SM in a more robust shower. All precip will diminish in the afternoon. Winds will become gusty up to 22kts out of the SW in the afternoon. This evening, skies will clear and winds will become light.

LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

KY...None. IN...None.