Chance for severe storms Friday; frigid Arctic blast coming Monday

A chance for severe thunderstorms is in the forecast for Friday, and temperatures near 70 will linger into the weekend. But then a bitter Arctic blast of cold air will rush in for Monday and Tuesday.

The Storms Prediction Center puts some of the southern KY Purchase and Pennyrile under a marginal risk (level 1 out of 4) of severe thunderstorms Friday. 

So far the severe risk looks very low to our region, with the better ingredients staying in western and middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky. 

A secondary cold front will bring another chance of showers Saturday evening into early Sunday morning. Saturday's high will hit 70 once again.

Behind the rain, a brief but bitter Arctic blast will bring the coldest temperatures of the season by far on Sunday and Monday. Sunday's high will only be 48 with 20-mph gusts from the northwest. 

High temperatures Monday may struggle to climb above 40 degrees in some spots.

Wind chill values of 10-20F are forecast Monday morning, and 15-25F readings are forecast Tuesday morning.

Paducah's records for cold temperatures will probably not be challenged on Monday and Tuesday. Monday's record low is 19 , set in 1991; its coldest high is 35, set in 1950. Tuesday's record low is 18, set in 1960, and coldest high is 36, set in 1941.