Area forecast discussion National Weather Service Paducah Kentucky 236 am CDT Tuesday may 21 2013 Short term...(today through Thursday night) issued at 215 am CDT Tuesday may 21 2013 Nearest term is dealing with remaining convection/tornados watch box. In general...the trend is diminishing in strength/intensity as the line sinks southward and eastward. A few healthy cells may continue to pulse...however...and with a couple of outflow boundaries working out of the northern and southern portions of the convective line...we'll only drop watch box counties behind the line. The models show the convection moving east...weakening...and then refiring this PM/evening as the upper level jet enters the picture. Best lift/instability will be to our south...but a slight risk of severe will continue. Would not be surprised to see a portion of the County Warning Area/especially semo/swky/swil...included in a late day-early evening watch box. Associated surface wave opens up and lifts across MO/IL/in tonight. This will drive the front and associated convection through the area. Instability lessens with time/overnight but active convection early in the period may extend through the night...something to watch and a high pop/categorical mention is warranted either way. The upper trough/best height falls occur Wednesday and drive the system through/to the east of US through Wednesday night. Probability of precipitation may even linger through thursay as 2ndary upper trough passage allows some diurnal instability showers/storms to develop...particularly northern/eastern portions forecast area. The system departs to the east by Thursday night...when pleasantly cooler/drier air starts to overtake the column. 80s and 60s cool to 70s and 50s thereafter. Long term...(friday through monday) issued at 236 am CDT Tuesday may 21 2013 Dry and tranquil weather is expected late in the week with high pressure ridging at the surface and aloft. Temperatures are likely to remain in the 70s on Friday...and reach just shy of the seasonal 80 degree mark on Saturday. A warming trend will take place over the weekend into early next week as low level flow becomes southerly on the back side of departing high pressure. Models continue to differ in their handling of a baroclinic zone forecast to develop just north of the region early next week...and thus with regard to precipitation chances as well. Both the Gem and especially the GFS have been fairly consistent in keeping the boundary and convective potential mainly north of the region as a middle level ridge remains in place locally. On the other hand...the European model (ecmwf) seems to suggest the boundary and associated precipitation will meander south into the region by Monday. Given the rather poor run to run consistency of the European model (ecmwf) and the presence of the middle level ridge...prefer to steer the forecast in the direction of the drier GFS at this time. Will also keep temperatures above the initialized guidance blend late in the period. This yields highs in the lower to middle 80s both Sunday and Monday...with lows in the lower to middle 60s. && Aviation... issued at 215 am CDT Tuesday may 21 2013 Active ongoing convection at this writing. Gust fronts producing winds/gusts to 35 kts precede main line of convection roughly 30-60 minutes where storm gusts may likewise reach 35 kts or better. Expect most intense activity next 2-3 hours to then deteriorate to more moderate shower activity with MVFR conditions improving to VFR by middle morning. PM redevelopment will have highest probability of precipitation west to lowest east...with return to MVFR condtions by evening expected as another round hits terminals/flight paths. In both instances a strong storm may produce IFR ceilings/visibilities albeit short- lived. && Pah watches/warnings/advisories... Illinois...none. MO...none. In...none. Kentucky...none. && $$