textproduct: Paducah

KEY MESSAGES

- Cooler air arriving will mean a return to below normal temperatures this weekend into early next week.

- Fire danger will be heightened this afternoon due to low RH values and brisk west winds.

- Warmer air returns the back half of next week, which is also when the next best chance of rain returns.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 100 AM CST Fri Feb 20 2026

Our potent storm system is departing, and now we'll see high pressure work in with a cooler air mass. This will take some time, as the heart of that colder air comes over the back half of the weekend into the beginning of the new work week, coincident with the evolution/development of a high amplitude long wave trof that helps drive that polar air plunge. Highs in the 30s in our north Sunday spread over the entire region for our coldest day Monday, and lows drop into the teens again both nights.

Fire danger heightens again this afternoon as RH values drop into the upper half 20s to lower 30s percentile. Brisk west winds diminish over the course of the day, but intersect enough to highlight the elevated fire risk in our still persistent dry environment.

Excepting a small/inconsequential chance of pcpn as the mean trof is developing on the front end of the forecast evolution heading into the weekend, we'll be mostly dry through the first half of next week. The back half of the week will see warmer air return, and along with it, or next best chance of rain.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 100 AM CST Fri Feb 20 2026

A cold front completing passage has shifted winds to westerly; they'll be brisk early but moderate thru the back half of the day as high pressure incoming takes over in relaxing the gradient with time.

PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

IL...None. MO...None. IN...None. KY...None.