textproduct: Paducah

KEY MESSAGES

- An Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect through tomorrow for a prolonged dangerous heatwave with daily heat index values ranging from 103-110 degrees. There is a 30-80% chance of triple digit heat index values continuing into Sunday over southeast Missouri, the Purchase Area of Kentucky, and adjacent portions of southern Illinois.

- Near record high temperatures in the upper 90s to around 100 degrees and near record warm overnight low temperatures in the mid to upper 70s are expected to continue through at least Saturday. These high and low temperatures are 10-15 degrees above normal, and will elevate heat impacts to an extreme level even more through the start of the holiday weekend. - An isolated shower or thunderstorm cannot be ruled out over much of the region this afternoon, and widely scattered showers and storms will be possible mainly over the Evansville Tri State and the Pennyrile region of west Kentucky Saturday afternoon. Little relief from the heat is expected, with only a 10-25% chance of rainfall exceeding a tenth of an inch where isolated showers and thunderstorms occur.

- Labor Day will be the choice day of the weekend, with highs mostly in the lower 90s, much less humidity, and a light northeast wind. The relative cool down will be short-lived, as triple digit heat indices return for much of the Quad State Tuesday through Thursday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1245 PM CDT Fri Sep 4 2026

The region continues to sit squarely in the middle of upper level ridging this afternoon. 500mb heights are about 594 dm, surface temperatures are headed back to the upper 90s once again with dewpoints in the low 70s. Noontime heat index readings are 108 to 112. High based cu are firing at around 6000-7000 ft. A small shower or few may cook up through late afternoon. Extreme heat and humidity persists tomorrow. Although jet- level flow shifts to the northwest just enough to give us a little more prospect of afternoon showers/thunderstorms. Added a 15-20% chance for most of the area in the late afternoon.

A "cold" front continues to be advertised for Sunday. There is still a fair chance (40-60%) for 100-105 degree heat index values for a few hours Sunday morning in the southwestern part of the area but the front may slide through just quickly enough to prevent that. It will still be hot however, with afternoon maxes in the 91-93 range with dewpoints in the mid 60s.

A pocket of drier air at 850mb or so looks to mix down strongly on Monday which should help make the humidity quite a bit better. Max temps will be around 90. Tuesday and Wednesday look hot with heat index values pushing back to or above 100 degrees. Thursday and beyond there is model disagreement on the prospects of another front moving through from the northwest. Deterministic GFS is the strongest advocate for that in the 12z guidance.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1218 PM CDT Fri Sep 4 2026

VFR conditions with high based cumulus through the afternoon with light winds. Some patchy fog risk overnight but large scale pattern does not look especially favorable.

PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

IL...Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT Saturday for ILZ075>078- 080>094. MO...Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT Saturday for MOZ076-086- 087-100-107>112-114. IN...Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT /9 PM EDT/ Saturday for INZ081-082-085>088. KY...Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT Saturday for KYZ001>022.