textproduct: Paducah

KEY MESSAGES

- A dangerous late season heat wave is forecast for the early to middle part of this week. Peak daily heat index values around 105 degrees are expected during the worst of the heat.

- A Heat Advisory is in effect today for parts of southeast Missouri and far west Kentucky.

- A Heat Advisory will be in effect Tuesday and Wednesday for the entire area.

- Slightly less humid conditions are forecast next weekend, along with the return of a small chance of showers on Sunday.

UPDATE

Issued at 538 AM CDT Mon Sep 14 2026

Updated Aviation discussion for the 12z TAF issuance.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1251 AM CDT Mon Sep 14 2026

The main story for the upcoming week remains the dangerous late season heat wave that will begin to impact parts of the area today then the entire region from Tuesday through at least Wednesday (and likely beyond). Ensemble guidance continues to show a 596-600 dm H5 ridge becoming centered over the Mid-South today through Friday. Temperatures at 850 mb will be around 19-22C, which is near maximum values for this time of year.

Today, the strongest ridging will be located over southeast MO and far west KY, where high temperatures will reach the lower to middle 90s. With dew point temperatures in the lower to middle 70s, peak heat index values will reach around 105F. Have expanded the inherited Heat Advisory for today to include locations along and south of a line from Mayfield KY to Scott City MO to Van Buren MO.

Beginning Tuesday, the ridge will expand to become centered over the entire region, with high temperatures in the middle to upper 90s forecast for most of the area, with dew point temperatures in the lower 70s. This will yield heat index values around 105 degrees Tuesday and Wednesday across the entire region. Opted to extend the inherited Heat Advisory for the entire area from Tuesday through Wednesday evening. Depending on how quickly dew point temperatures draw down, the Heat Advisory may be extended through Thursday with later forecast updates.

The late season nature of the this heat wave has raised our levels of concern for health impacts. This is due to more activities taking place outdoors (school events, festivals, sporting events, outdoor workers, etc.) when conditions would usually be much cooler by the middle of September. Those planning to participate in outdoor activities this week should be prepared for the heat or should consider altering plans to minimize exposure to the heat. Looking at historical records, this is latest in the season we can find that a Heat Advisory has been issued for our forecast area in at least 20 years (which is farthest back we can find records for Heat Advisory issuance), so there is nothing typical about this level of heat and humidity in this part of September.

Model guidance continues to trend slower to break down this ridge, and high temperatures in the lower to middle 90s will likely linger through next weekend. However with continued dry conditions, dew point will begin to draw down into the 60s, which will limit heat index values to the middle to upper 90s. Additionally, the return of mentionable low-end precipitation chances has also been delayed until Sunday at the earliest, so drought impact concerns will also increase during this time.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 538 AM CDT Mon Sep 14 2026

The TAFs are VFR. Under mostly clear skies, winds will be steady from the E to NE around 5-10 kts through this afternoon. Tonight, winds will become E to ESE around 4-6 kts then become SE after 06z Tuesday.

PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

IL...Heat Advisory from 11 AM Tuesday to 7 PM CDT Wednesday for ILZ075>078-080>094. MO...Heat Advisory from 11 AM Tuesday to 7 PM CDT Wednesday for MOZ076-086-087-100. Heat Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 7 PM CDT Wednesday for MOZ107>112-114. IN...Heat Advisory from 11 AM CDT /noon EDT/ Tuesday to 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ Wednesday for INZ081-082-085>088. KY...Heat Advisory from 11 AM Tuesday to 7 PM CDT Wednesday for KYZ004-005-007>022. Heat Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 7 PM CDT Wednesday for KYZ001>003-006.