November Summary

A dry pattern that set up in early October continued through much of November. The period November 1-27 this year was the 3rd driest such period on record at Bowling Green, 4th driest at Frankfort, and 6th driest at Lexington. As a result, moderate drought that was in place across Kentucky at the beginning of the month had deepened significantly by the end of the month to extreme drought in the Lake Cumberland region, severe drought throughout central Kentucky, and moderate drought in southern Indiana.

Rains finally returned on the 28th as widespread showers and embedded thunderstorms brought 0.5"-1.5" of welcome rain. There were also, unfortunately, some damaging wind gusts as well. Winds to 70 mph blew trees and power lines down in and near Bowling Green along with a few other trees and power lines around southern Kentucky.

The month was also very warm. The first two days of the month, in particular, were nearly 20 degrees warmer than normal. All-time record highs for November were set at many locations on the 1st, including 83° at Lexington and 85° at Louisville.

	Average Temperature	Departure from Normal	Precipitation	Departure form Normal
Bowling Green	51.9°	+3.5°	1.91"	-2.31"
Frankfort	49.4°	+3.4°	1.49"	-2.24"
Lexington	50.2°	+3.9°	1.34"	-2.19"
Louisville Bowman	51.3°	+3.8°	1.80"	-1.81"
Louisville International	52.7°	+4.0°	1.65"	-1.94"

Records

1st: Record high of 87° at Bowling Green, record high of 84° at Frankfort, record high of 83° at Lexington, record warm low of 63° at Lexington, record high of 85° at Louisville
2nd: Record high of 85° at Bowling Green, record high of 83° at Frankfort, record high of 82° at Lexington, record high of 85° at Louisville
3rd: Record warm low of 58° at Frankfort
17th: Record high of 80° at Bowling Green
18th: Record high of 78° at Lexington, record high of 81° at Louisville (Louisville's latest 80°+ temperature)

10th warmest November on record at Bowling Green
9th warmest November on record at Lexington
7th warmest November on record at Louisville

Cirrus November 18, 2016 over central Kentucky

Feathery cirrus on the 18th over Scott County, Kentucky. Janet McLanahan