Kentucky Climate
Top 5 Cities: Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro, and Covington
This month in numbers
Kentucky experienced its warmest April on record in 2026, with an average temperature of 17.39°C, a significant 4.5°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. This also marked the 1st warmest April for maximum temperatures, reaching 24.67°C, which is 5°C above average. Looking at the broader picture, the February–April 2026 period was the 2nd warmest on record for average temperatures and the warmest on record for maximum temperatures, at 11.15°C and 17.95°C respectively. Precipitation for February–April was notably low, ranking as the 77th lowest of 77 years on record, with a deficit of 39.7 mm.
What changed
Kentucky's exceptionally warm April and the preceding three months stand in stark contrast to the national average, with the state ranking as the 6th warmest of 234 regions globally for the latest month's temperature anomaly. The broader Ohio Valley region, which includes Kentucky, also saw significantly above-average temperatures, with Kentucky being the 2nd warmest within this group. This period of warmth has been accompanied by severe and extreme drought conditions across much of Kentucky, with over 40% of the state experiencing extreme drought in May. This is a significant increase in drought severity for the region.
What’s driving change?
The persistent warmth and lack of precipitation are key factors driving the current conditions. The dry conditions have contributed to an elevated wildfire risk, particularly in eastern and western Kentucky. There have been 4 wildfire events in Kentucky in the past month, representing 100% of the annual total, an unusual concentration for the season. Additionally, two drought events have been logged in the past 12 months, also representing 100% of the annual total. These dry conditions have led to lower-than-normal water levels in several lakes across the state. While some rainfall has occurred, it has not been sufficient to alleviate the widespread drought.
Looking ahead
A wetter pattern is expected in the coming weeks, which could provide some relief to the ongoing drought conditions.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
Loading climate data...
Data Sources
Data Sources for Kentucky
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) — see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Kentucky changing?
Kentucky is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The trend rate is shown as °C per decade in the headline panel; you can also see the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for Kentucky come from?
Climate data for Kentucky comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Kentucky climate data cover?
The Kentucky climate profile covers Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro and surrounding areas. Kentucky climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the Kentucky climate update refreshed?
The Kentucky climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.