textproduct: Paducah

KEY MESSAGES

- An Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect through Saturday for a prolonged dangerous heatwave with daily heat index values ranging from 103-109 degrees. There is a 30-50% chance of needing to extend advisory level heat headlines into Sunday.

- Multiple consecutive days of near record high temperatures in the upper 90s to 100 degrees and several record warm overnight low temperatures in the mid 70s continue to be observed and are expected to continue. 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. - Rain chances will not provide relief until late Saturday at the earliest, with only a 20-30% chance of rainfall exceeding a tenth of an inch where isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms occur primarily on Saturday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1237 PM CDT Wed Sep 2 2026

It is scorching hot again today across the quad-state. Noontime temperatures are in general about one to two degrees warmer than yesterday at 96-98 at Poplar Bluff to Mt. Vernon and 93-96 east of there. Low 70s dewpoints are providing heat index values around 105. Tomorrow and Friday look very similar with deep layer ridging from the southeast to the central Plains only amplifying, if anything. Lows only drop into the mid 70s, which will continue to produce another extended period of dangerously hot conditions.

By Saturday broadly cyclonic flow over eastern Canada bows southward in a way that produces more northwesterly flow aloft and also sends a backdoor "cold" front towards the region from the northeast. LCL heights are very high as this front comes through due to deep mixing with poor mid level lapse rates with 500mb heights still sitting at 590-592 dm and ensemble guidance is handicapping our PoPs pretty low presumably as a result. The chance of a little rain over the Saturday-Sunday period is 30-50% but in any one 6 or 12 hour time period the chance appears pretty small/difficult to pin down. The front looks to drop temperatures a few degrees, although heat index values will still likely be pushing 100 Sunday-Tuesday. Upper level ridging snaps right back into place early next week and we look likely to continue a hot and mostly dry pattern into the middle of next week. Ensemble temperatures are a little cooler, in the lower to mid 90s, but I wouldn't be shocked to see those start to trend up given the 598+ dm 500mb heights and full sunshine.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1147 AM CDT Wed Sep 2 2026

VFR conditions are anticipated through the next 24 hours. Light to moderate southwest winds can be expected this afternoon, diminishing after sunset.

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.