It is said of just about every state: "If you don't like the weather, stick around. It'll change." In Kentucky, however, this time-worn cliche carries more than a grain of truth. Weather and its vagaries are an obsession in the state, not only because the commonwealth relies heavily on weather-sensitive industries such as agriculture, transportation, and tourism, but also because weather changes are indeed frequent and often abrupt.

In Kentucky Weather, meteorologist Jerry Hill explains how the atmosphere creates Kentucky's weather, and he provides insights into what...