textproduct: Paducah

KEY MESSAGES

- A Heat Advisory continues today through Sunday, with high temperatures 15 to 20 degrees above normal in the middle 90s to near 100 degrees.

- There is a 20-30% chance of showers and storms late this afternoon into this evening across mainly southwest Indiana, northwest Kentucky into the Pennyrile region, and portions of southern Illinois along anD north of Route 13.

- A cooling trend will finally begin early next week with the passage of a cold front, with temperatures by mid week near to even a little below normal.

- The cold front will be accompanied by 40-60% chances of showers and thunderstorms Monday afternoon into Monday evening, with 20-40% chances tapering off from northwest to southeast late Monday night THROUGH Tuesday.

UPDATE

Issued at 1235 PM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026

Updated aviation section for 18z TAF issuance.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 102 AM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026

The heat wave will continue with our region remaining under the influence of an upper level ridge. A Heat Advisory remains in effect through Sunday as high temperatures continue to reach near record to record readings in the middle 90s to near 100 degrees.

A weak boundary to our north is expected to sag far enough southwest late today and trigger isolated showers and thunderstorms across northwest and eastern portions of the PAH forecast area (fa). The boundary will retreat back northeast late tonight, but a stray shower of storms is not out of the question Saturday afternoon in portions of southwest Indiana.

The upper ridge will gradually break down over the weekend, and models bring a cold front slowly through the middle Mississippi and lower Ohio valley late Sunday into Monday. Winds will shift to the west then north Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. Chances of showers and storms will slowly spread into northern and western portions of the PAH fa late Sunday night into Monday morning, with chances increasing and spreading southeast by Monday afternoon. Monday afternoon chances will range from 20-40% across west Kentucky, to 40-60% chances across the rest of the area, then 30-50% chances will continue into Monday evening. 20-40% chances will taper off from northwest to southeast late Monday night through Tuesday.

The passage of the cold front will finally bring welcome relief from the heat, with highs Monday ranging from the upper 80s northwest to middle 90s southeast, then Tuesday from the middle 70s northwest to middle 80s southeast. Dry conditions and near to even a little below normal temperatures will then persist Wednesday into Thursday with highs in the middle 70s to around 80 degrees and very low humidity.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1235 PM CDT Fri Sep 18 2026

VFR conditions are forecast through the TAF period. Generally westerly winds early afternoon that will peak at around 6-10kts, with a few isolated gusts. Cloud coverage increases heading into the evening in the north as a few showers and a storm or two could develop, but chances still remain too low to even warrant a PROB30. Winds calm down overnight, with some potential for minor vsby drops that primarily remain VFR.

PAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

IL...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT Sunday for ILZ075>078-080>094. MO...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT Sunday for MOZ076-086-087-100- 107>112-114. IN...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ Sunday for INZ081-082- 085>088. KY...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT Sunday for KYZ001>022.