Cold, dry weather in the forecast this week

Unseasonably cold weather will give way later this week to more normal temperatures, but don’t expect any rain in the next few days.

Justin Gibbs with the National Weather Service Paducah noted the freeze warning in effect for Western Kentucky from 9 p.m. Monday until 9 a.m. Tuesday during the weekly conference call, as low temperatures will likely reach the mid-20’s.

While the first freeze of the year is only a little earlier than average, the degree of the cold that will settle in on Wednesday morning could be the lowest October temperatures on record in some places.

The Pennyrile region is in moderate drought status, there’s extreme drought to the west and that’s caused transportation issues along area rivers—especially the Mississippi.

Long-range models are showing the potential for substantial rain on Monday of next week and while he’s hopeful, Gibbs says that’s still too far out to have any confidence.

In the meantime, outdoor burn bans remain in place across Christian, Todd, Trigg and most adjoining counties as the dry conditions and low humidity combined with any wind would make fires spread fast and very difficult to extinguish.