A tale of divided moisture in Kentucky this summer so far

There have been many 100-degree and higher days recorded in communities across the U.S. in 2024. So far, Kentucky has escaped that kind of heat. In fact, for an extended period, it was back in 2012 when the Commonwealth saw about a dozen 100-degree-plus-days. State Climatologist Jerry Brotzge said there’s still been a general rise in temps since 1980.

“The number of 100-degree days isn’t necessarily related to how hot the year is. I’d say about half of our top ten warmest years have occurred in the last decade or so,” said Brotzge.

It’s been close to a century since Kentuckians went through a larger number of sweltering hot days. Brotzge said there was a year in the 1930s when the bluegrass state recorded 27 one-hundred-degree-plus days.

The summer of 2024, so far in Kentucky, when talking about weather conditions, has been the tale of at least two sides. Portions of western Kentucky have seen round after round of showers while central Kentucky is facing a moderate drought, due to hit-and-miss showers that mostly miss. Brotzge said dry ground can contribute to dry air aloft.

“If you have an area that’s drying out, your soil is drying out, so there’s less water to evaporate from the soils, from the plants…transpire from the plants to provide moisture back to the atmosphere,” said Brotzge.

Brotzge noted July and August are typically the warmest months in Kentucky. The state Climate Center director added the long-term forecast does call for a lessening of drought conditions in those extremely dry areas.

Here's the interview with State Climatologist Jerry Brotzge:

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