As summer sets in across the country, meteorologists are warning that this summer could trend warmer than normal.
Jane Marie Wix, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson, said that while it is impossible to be certain about what the state of the weather will be this summer, they can make reasonable predictions based on trends.
“Kentucky itself sees about a 20, looks like a 25-40% chance of seeing above normal temperatures. Keep in mind though that doesn’t mean it’s going to be above normal the entire summer, those entire three months of June, July, August, but we could see a trend toward warmer days,” said Wix.
Officials said it is always important to keep hot weather safety in mind in the summer months, especially if temperatures are warmer than normal. They said to make sure to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and limit time spent in direct sunlight. They also said it is important to keep an eye on any outdoor pets, making sure they have plenty of shade and water so they don’t overheat either.
In addition, Wix said the Climate Prediction Center can forecast precipitation amounts, which are expected to be around the normal range for the area.
“Then as far as precipitation, it looks like the Climate Prediction Center has most of the state in equal chances of seeing above or below normal precipitation. So that really doesn’t give a whole lot of information, but we probably will average out about normal,” said Wix.
She said the important thing is to, as always, stay weather aware and up to date on forecasts.