LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – Happy Thursday! We are tracking a few showers early in the day on Thursday ahead of a quiet and mild afternoon. More rain is expected to arrives midday Friday with heavier rain the forecast late Saturday evening. A few storms will be possible into Saturday night as well as the heavier rain moves in. Overall 2-3+ inches of rain is in the forecast through the end of the weekend, with the heaviest of the rain expected in central/south-central Kentucky. Our mild pattern will change after a system swings through on New Year’s Eve. That system will set the stage for more shots of cold, arctic air through the middle of January. Few Showers Early Thursday A few light showers will be around during the morning hours on Thursday. Don’t worry, these showers won’t last long. Lingering clouds will be around through the afternoon with temperatures climbing into the mid-to-upper 50s. Tonight will be quiet with overnight lows falling into the upper 30s and low 40s. This is ahead of an active weather pattern for the weekend that kicks off on Friday. Heavier Rain by the Weekend Rain returns late Friday morning. Friday’s rain will be briefly heavy during the midday and afternoon hours. This will exit Friday night before heavier rain moves in Saturday evening. Localized high water concerns could be possible Saturday night in low-lying and flood prone areas. We aren’t expecting any widespread high water issues but rising creeks and streams will be possible. 2-3 inches of rain is expected for most of the area, with some isolated heavier amounts possible across south-central Kentucky. This heavier rain will be exiting by Sunday morning. Lingering showers are expected through the day on Sunday but they won’t be very heavy. Temperatures may not climb much on Sunday either, staying in the low-to-mid 50s through most of the daytime. Colder Pattern Expected into 2025 Monday looks quiet ahead of a quick moving system on New Year’s Eve. This will bring us a round of breezy showers next Tuesday before colder air settles in for New Year’s Day. Speaking of colder air… The long term data suggests we could be in for a very cold middle of the month of January. Expect a pattern change back to below average temperatures starting from around the first weekend of January through at least the middle of the month. This would be a favorable pattern for more wintry weather as well… So stay tuned! Stay with the ABC 36 Storm Team for more updates.  ABC 36 HOUR FORECAST THURSDAY: A few showers early with mostly cloudy skies. Highs in the mid-50s. THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy and quiet. Lows in the upper 30s and low 40s. FRIDAY: Rain moves in midday and lasts through the early evening. Highs in the mid-50s. Categories: Featured, Local Weather Headlines, Storm Team Weather Blog, Weather, Weather Forecast Tags: ABC 36 Hour Forecast, ABC 36 Second Forecast, December, Kentucky, Lexington, Meteorologist Dillon Gaudet, weather, weather forecast, Weather Video, Weekend Forecast