Temperatures soared so high in Lexington Friday the city beat its record for Aug. 30, one that has stood for 70 years.
Responding to an email from the Herald-Leader, National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Reaugh noted for several days this week, Lexington has seen near record-breaking temperature highs.
According to Reaugh, the observed temperature highs and their single-date records are as follows:
Aug. 27 - Observed temperature high: 95 degrees Fahrenheit; record high: 101 degrees set in 1936
Aug. 28 - Observed high: 97 degrees; record high: 100 degrees set in 1936
Aug. 29 - Observed high: 98 degrees; tying record of 98 degrees set in 1953
Friday, Lexington beat its record-high temperature for Aug. 30 when it pushed past 97 degrees, Reaugh told the Herald-Leader.
“It’s too soon to say what today’s high will end up being, but as of 2:15 p.m. Lexington has made it to 98 [degrees], which breaks the record for August 30 of 97 [degrees] set in 1953,” Reaugh told the Herald-Leader in an email Friday afternoon.
Lexington isn’t the only Kentucky city seeing record-breaking heat this week.
Thursday, the NWS office in Louisville, posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Louisville had set a new record at 102 degrees, breaking its previous record for Aug. 29 of 99 degrees, also set in 1953. According to WHAS 11 in Louisville, it was also the single hottest day Louisville has experienced since July 8, 2012.
Friday afternoon, several other Kentucky cities were either tying or breaking their temperature high records for Aug. 30, according to Reaugh. They are also follows:
Covington: While Covington did not set any new record highs between Aug. 27 and Aug. 29 this year, Reaugh noted Friday, “they will break their record for today. The record for August 30 was 96 [degrees] set in 1962, and as of 2:15pm they’ve reached 97 [degrees].”
Paducah: The city tied its record for Aug. 28 set at 99 degrees in 1948. Thursday, Paducah set a new record high for Aug. 29 of 101 degrees, breaking its old record of 99 degrees set in 2000.
Jackson: Jackson in Eastern Kentucky’s Breathitt County tied its record high for Aug. 28 of 93 degrees set in 1995. (Record keeping there started in 1981). Thursday, Jackson set a new record high of 95 degrees, breaking its previous record of 94 degrees set in 1991. Reaugh noted of Jackson Friday, “their record for today, August 30, is 95 [degrees] set in 1995 -- this will be in jeopardy this afternoon.”
Thursday, London tied its record high of 95 degrees, set in 2007.
The heat seen throughout Kentucky is forecast to ease over Labor Day weekend , according to a Friday seven-day forecast from the NWS. Though it won’t be as hot this weekend, the weather service forecasts stormy weather Saturday and Sunday, but clear weather Monday for the holiday with a high of 81 degrees.
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