UPDATE: Friday 3:45 p.m.
The majority of our listening area is now under a severe thunderstorm watch through 8 p.m. tonight.
The National Weather Service reports damaging winds and large hail are the primary hazards, however a small-focused area over southeast Missouri and west Kentucky may see a higher potential for isolated tornado development. The storm system has produced tornado warnings in the past hour.
Local heavy rain may be a greater concern late tonight over west Kentucky with a flooding chance in low-lying areas.
The chance of showers and thunderstorms persists over the weekend and into the middle of next week.
Thursday 2:10 pm
Forecasters with the National Weather Service in Paducah are calling for a slight to moderate risk of severe thunderstorms starting tonight and for most of Friday and Saturday, however no watch has been put into effect as of yet.
There is a 50% chance of thunderstorms after 1 a.m. tonight and an 80% chance throughout the day on Friday, but NWS meteorologist Dave Purdy says the incoming system has not yet been upgraded to severe weather status.
"This type of weather is not uncommon for this time of year or this season," said Purdy. "There isn't a watch or warning in effect right now but of course that could change once it gets closer to the area later on tonight."
Purdy says the thunderstorms are likely to start late this afternoon over southeast Missouri and will spread eastward across western Kentucky with a chance of becoming severe after midnight. The main hazards being large hail and damaging winds in excess of 23 mph. Localized heavy rainfall is also a possibility.
Saturday holds a 20% chance of thunderstorms throughout the day and 30% chance into the evening.
This page will be updated as weather-related developments unfold.
