Two Ridges Bridging
Thursday, August 6, 2026 · 11:25 AM
Lyrics
Cutoff upper low drowning in prevailing winds Clay and Macon County left behind in the gradient West of I-65 we burn dry with a ten percent chance While Lawrenceburg takes three inches in an hour! Diurnal decay as the sun goes down Late night fog clinging to the suffocating asphalt WE ARE TRAPPED BETWEEN TWO HIGH PRESSURE CENTERS! THE RIDGES ARE BRIDGING TOGETHER OVER MY CHEST! HEAT INDEX ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE! SOME SPOTS GET NOTHING AND SOME GET TOO MUCH! HEAT RISK LEVEL THREE OUT OF FOUR! I AM BURNING ALIVE EAST OF THE PLATEAU! Peak coverage along the Cumberland ridge Seventy percent probability of absolute saturation Gusty winds forty miles an hour tearing through the canopy Sadly, many spots will not get rain at all! While a few spots get too much! Too much! WE ARE TRAPPED BETWEEN TWO HIGH PRESSURE CENTERS! THE RIDGES ARE BRIDGING TOGETHER OVER MY CHEST! HEAT INDEX ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE! SOME SPOTS GET NOTHING AND SOME GET TOO MUCH! HEAT RISK LEVEL THREE OUT OF FOUR! I AM BURNING ALIVE EAST OF THE PLATEAU!
The forecast discussion
NEW SHORT TERM, LONG TERM
KEY MESSAGES
Updated at 1125 AM CDT Thu Aug 6 2026
- Scattered afternoon showers and storms each day.
Low coverage (10 to 30 percent) west of I-65 with medium coverage (30 to 60 percent) east of I-65.
- No severe weather is expected, but a few storms may produce gusty winds around 40 mph and heavy downpours causing local flash flooding.
- Heat Index values in the upper 90 to low 100s each afternoon.
SHORT TERM
(Rest of today through Saturday) Issued at 1125 AM CDT Thu Aug 6 2026
Yesterday's storms were focused along a low-level instability gradient from Clay and Macon Counties down to Lawrence County.
Very heavy downpours created some localized spots of flash flooding.
We do not expect as much coverage today, but where scattered storms occur, the threat for very heavy rainfall and localized flooding will continue.
A few spots could see 2 to 3 inches of rain while most of Middle Tennessee will get through the day rain-free.
Otherwise, typical August heat and humidity will be in place with heat index values touching 100 for many areas west of the Plateau.
The cutoff upper low that has lingered over our eastern counties the past few days will continue to weaken today and eventually get absorbed into prevailing winds north of our area Friday into Saturday.
Still, a band of deep moisture will linger as an impulse comes our way from the west northwest.
This will keep the scattered shower and storm pattern going with lowest coverage west and greater coverage east, especially Plateau.
Probabilities for rain and storms will peak Saturday, ranging from 30 percent west to nearly 70 percent along the PLateau.
There will be enough instability for a few "strong" storms with gusty winds of 40 or 50 mph, but we are not looking for widespread or organized severe wx. The main concern will be heavy rain leading to local flash flooding, like we saw in Lawrenceburg and a few other spots yesterday when 2 to 3 inches of rain fell in a short period.
The deep convection will continue to be mostly diurnal, with showers and storms mostly ending with sunset.
This will set the stage for areas of late night fog, especially where rain falls.
LONG TERM
(Saturday night through next Thursday) Issued at 1125 AM CDT Thu Aug 6 2026
Strong high pressure systems will be centered off to our southeast and out to our west.
We will experience relatively weaker ridging in between.
This means a very warm and humid pattern with daily chances for showers and storms.
It is nearly impossible to be precise about rain hitting any particular location.
Sadly, many spots will not get much rain at all through the next week while a few spots get too much.
In general, Sunday through Tuesday look like the days with lowest rain coverage (10 to 30 percent) and hottest conditions as the 2 high pressure centers bridge together across the area.
The ridge will weaken over our area mid to late week, allowing daily storm chances to increase (30 to 60 percent).
Most days will bring heat index values over 100 for areas west of the Plateau.
The hottest days, Sunday through Tuesday, could see heat index values topping 105 for some spots.
This will push the Heat Risk level to 3 out of 4 for many areas and advisories may be considered.