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000
FXUS63 KLMK 201355
AFDLMK

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Louisville KY
955 AM EDT Thu Jul 20 2017

...Updated Forecast Discussion...

.Forecast Update...
Issued at 955 AM EDT Thu Jul 20 2017

After an early look at this morning`s guidance and the expected
temperatures and heat indices for Friday, there is enough confidence
to go with a Heat Advisory for areas mainly along and west of I-65
across central Kentucky and southern Indiana. Peak heat indices will
range from 105 to 108 during the afternoon and early evening hours
and the greatest threat will be found in urbanized areas such as
Louisville metro.

Confidence to continue the advisory through Saturday isn`t high
enough yet so will continue to look at the latest guidance this
morning.

As far as today goes, convective debris clouds associated with a
decaying MCS over the lower Great Lakes will dive southeast through
the lower Ohio Valley. This may hold high temperatures down a few
degrees from the current forecast, but if clouds do thin or don`t
make it all the way through central Kentucky, then temperatures
should easily climb into the 90s based on the latest guidance. For
now, will maintain current forecast but later updates may need to
adjust this as well.

&&

.Short Term (Now through Friday)...
Issued at 255 AM EDT Thu Jul 20 2017

Upper ridging centered over the southern Plains continues to build
into the Ohio Valley, and will match or exceed the hottest temps of
any of the last few summers. Main challenge is when and where Heat
Advisory thresholds may be breached. Not too concerned about
convection with 700mb temps at 11-12C to keep a lid on things, but
Thursday night convection to our north could push an outflow
boundary into the Ohio Valley to focus isolated storms along/north
of Interstate 64 on Fri.

Temps finally managed to overachieve on Wednesday, and both 850mb
temp and 1000-850mb thickness progs suggest Thursday could run 3-4
degrees warmer. That puts most of the area in the lower 90s, with
mid 90s possible across parts of south-central Kentucky and upper
90s in urban Louisville. Dewpoint forecast is toned down slightly
from most guidance given how the boundary layer mixed out Wednesday,
but is still enough to push max heat index values to 101-104 degrees
west of I-65.

Heat wave will peak on Friday as the upper ridging is the strongest.
Temps may be only a degree or two warmer, but dewpoints could rise
into the mid 70s, and that would push the heat index solidly into
advisory territory, especially west of I-65. However, in
coordination with surrounding offices, will hold off on any
headlines for at least one more forecast cycle as it remains a lower-
confidence dewpoint forecast. Will continue to highlight the heat
and humidity via Special Weather Statements and web/social media
avenues.

.Long Term (Friday Night through Wednesday)...
Issued at 255 AM EDT Thu Jul 20 2017

Upper ridging starts to break down on Saturday, allowing for a bit
more cloud cover and isolated showers and storms, especially east of
Interstate 65. Temps look a couple degrees cooler than Friday, but
heat indices will still top 100 degrees across most of the forecast
area.

By Sunday a respectable upper trof swings through the Great Lakes
and pushes a cold front slowly into the Ohio Valley. Expect
scattered showers and storms Sunday into Monday, but weakly sheared
environment doesn`t support much organization. Canadian surface high
settles into the Great Lakes for Tue-Wed, knocking our temps below
climo and dewpoints into the lower 60s, providing a respite from the
oppressive heat and humidity.

&&

.Aviation...(12Z TAF Issuance)
Issued at 656 AM EDT Thu Jul 20 2017

Quiet aviation weather today with just some light fog in the river
valleys this morning. However, all the terminals remain VFR at
7-8SM at this time. This shallow fog will likely burn off by 13z.
Otherwise, predominantly VFR with scattered-broken high clouds
spilling south from thunderstorm activity near Chicago this
morning. Toward late morning, a 5-7 kt southwest breeze is
expected to develop.


&&

.LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...Heat Advisory from noon EDT /11 AM CDT/ to 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/
     Friday for INZ076>078-083-084-089>092.

KY...Heat Advisory from noon EDT /11 AM CDT/ to 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/
     Friday for KYZ023>031-034-038-045-053-061>063-070>074.

&&

$$

Update...ZT
Short Term........RAS
Long Term.........RAS
Aviation...EBW