Area forecast discussion National Weather Service Paducah Kentucky 244 am CDT Monday may 20 2013 Short term...(today through Wednesday night) issued at 234 am CDT Monday may 20 2013 The front producing severe weather to our west stays...for the most part...to our west today and tonight. Its outflow may set off a shower or storm chance for our northwestern fringes by tonight...otherwise the upper ridge should hold another 12-24 hours. Tuesday and Tuesday night is a different story. Frontogenetic forcing over MO/Arkansas develops as upper low/height falls occur in the upper Midwest. The resultant cold front will be driven eastward into the pah forecast area...with an upper jet streak providing upper level divergence enhancing upward vertical motion fields. The front looks to actually make a push into the forecast area by 12z Wednesday and the associated pre frontal line of storms should precede it...so peak probability of precipitation likely or better by Tuesday night-continuing into Wednesday still appears to be the best chance time period for storms. Swody2 outlooks nearly the entire area for slight risk severe accordingly. The upper low rounds a broader trough over the Midwest/Great Lakes Wednesday-Wednesday night and ultimately drives the front to our east as height falls migrate southward into the lower Ohio Valley. Continued precipitation chances will accompany this system passage through the Wednesday night time period. Long term...(thursday through sunday) issued at 234 am CDT Monday may 20 2013 The period will start off with a continued slight chance for showers and thunderstorms as a middle level trough and surface cold front make passage on Thursday. Beyond that...high pressure ridging at the surface and aloft will ensure dry conditions through the remainder of the week. Milder temperatures will take hold by Friday and Saturday...as readings remain below seasonal norms. A return to southerly low level flow will Herald a warming trend...increased humidity...and at least a slight chance of a shower or storm by Sunday. However...the presence of the middle level ridge is likely to inhibit much more than isolated to widely scattered coverage through the end of the period. && Aviation... issued at 234 am CDT Monday may 20 2013 VFR ceilings may work into the region today from west to east. Slys will pick up today and include some diurnal gustiness. Precipitation chances too low to mention today but may creep into prob30 mentionables by evening...particularly for kcgi...with accompanying potential visibility drops to MVFR in -tsra. && Pah watches/warnings/advisories... Illinois...none. MO...none. In...none. Kentucky...none. && $$