NOAA climate atlas · updated August 2026
Kentucky Climate Data
Climate normals for 95 station-mapped locations, each from its primary station in Kentucky's 199-station NOAA network.
- average temperature
- 56°F (13°C)56.2°F · fleet p50 52.2°F · n=50
- Warmer than median
- annual precipitation
- 50.6"50.6 inches · fleet p50 43.7 inches · n=50
- Wetter national band
- annual snowfall
- 10.3"10.3 inches · fleet p50 24.7 inches · n=50
- Less snow than median
- locations / stations
- 95 / 199State coverage: 95 locations / 199 stations. Benchmark context: this profile's measured location and NOAA-station counts.
- State coverage
Kentucky's climate in one line
Kentucky averages 56°F a year - warmer than 68% of U.S. states, spanning Olive Hill at 52°F to Eddyville at 61°F.
- 56°F
- statewide average · 68th percentile of states
- 51"
- average annual precipitation
- 83/100
- most comfortable: Calhoun Lock
- 95
- station-mapped locations · 199 NOAA stations
Statewide figures are simple averages across 95 station-mapped locations (each from its primary NOAA station), local conditions vary widely by elevation and coast distance.
How Kentucky ranks among all 50 states
Kentucky's average temperature vs. all U.S. states
Statewide annual mean temperature, NOAA 1991–2020 normals
56°F Top 32% warmer than 68% of 50 U.S. states
- 30°F–35°F: 1 US states (2%). Below this entry.
- 35°F–40°F: 0 US states (0%). Below this entry.
- 40°F–45°F: 8 US states (16%). Below this entry.
- 45°F–50°F: 10 US states (20%). Below this entry.
- 50°F–55°F: 12 US states (24%). Below this entry.
- 55°F–60°F: 8 US states (16%). This entry sits in this band.
- 60°F–65°F: 7 US states (14%). Above this entry.
- 65°F–70°F: 2 US states (4%). Above this entry.
- 70°F–75°F: 2 US states (4%). Above this entry.
Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (statewide aggregate) · 1991–2020
Kentucky in the national rankings
- Ranks #15 hottest of 50 states at 56.2°F annual average, 3.1°F above the 53.1°F mean of all state averages - see all 50 hottest states ranked by NOAA normals
- In winter (Dec–Feb) it averages 36.6°F, the #18 warmest winter of 50 states - winter ranking
- 39.8% of NOAA hourly observations report clear sky (6 measured locations), the #29 clearest of 47 ranked states - sunniest states by clear-sky frequency
Temperature × precipitation · 50-state landscape
Kentucky in the national climate landscape
Kentucky averages 56.2°F and 50.6 inches of annual precipitation across 95 station-mapped locations. Against the same complete 50-state cohort, that places it in the warmer and wetter half of the chart. Dashed lines mark the national medians of 52.3°F and 43.7 inches.
Read all 50 state values
Each point is PlainClimate's simple average across the station-mapped location normals available for that state. Cohort sizes vary and are shown below; the values are not population weighted. Dashed lines mark the median of this 50-state comparison and are guides, not comfort or safety thresholds.
| State | Locations | Annual mean | Annual precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 172 | 33.5°F | 47.6 in |
| Alabama | 100 | 63.3°F | 57.9 in |
| Arkansas | 110 | 60.7°F | 52.2 in |
| Arizona | 169 | 62.3°F | 12.4 in |
| California | 363 | 59.8°F | 21.6 in |
| Colorado | 214 | 46.3°F | 15.9 in |
| Connecticut | 23 | 50.1°F | 48.6 in |
| Delaware | 7 | 56.2°F | 46.8 in |
| Florida | 165 | 72.6°F | 55.2 in |
| Georgia | 122 | 63.4°F | 52.0 in |
| Hawaii | 49 | 72.4°F | 48.5 in |
| Iowa | 143 | 48.0°F | 35.9 in |
| Idaho | 139 | 46.1°F | 18.0 in |
| Illinois | 163 | 52.2°F | 40.7 in |
| Indiana | 116 | 52.4°F | 43.7 in |
| Kansas | 168 | 54.8°F | 31.2 in |
| Kentucky | 95 | 56.2°F | 50.6 in |
| Louisiana | 91 | 67.3°F | 60.3 in |
| Massachusetts | 68 | 49.2°F | 48.2 in |
| Maryland | 42 | 55.6°F | 45.5 in |
| Maine | 79 | 43.1°F | 46.4 in |
| Michigan | 201 | 45.5°F | 34.2 in |
| Minnesota | 172 | 42.2°F | 30.0 in |
| Missouri | 164 | 55.1°F | 43.9 in |
| Mississippi | 91 | 64.1°F | 59.7 in |
| Montana | 215 | 43.4°F | 15.9 in |
| North Carolina | 178 | 59.1°F | 52.2 in |
| North Dakota | 119 | 41.0°F | 19.2 in |
| Nebraska | 171 | 49.6°F | 25.0 in |
| New Hampshire | 52 | 44.5°F | 46.6 in |
| New Jersey | 45 | 53.6°F | 47.9 in |
| New Mexico | 167 | 54.3°F | 13.8 in |
| Nevada | 115 | 52.4°F | 8.9 in |
| New York | 173 | 47.5°F | 43.7 in |
| Ohio | 128 | 51.6°F | 41.1 in |
| Oklahoma | 159 | 60.3°F | 35.7 in |
| Oregon | 180 | 50.5°F | 37.6 in |
| Pennsylvania | 157 | 50.2°F | 45.2 in |
| Rhode Island | 9 | 51.2°F | 48.7 in |
| South Carolina | 100 | 62.8°F | 49.8 in |
| South Dakota | 149 | 45.6°F | 21.8 in |
| Tennessee | 146 | 58.0°F | 56.0 in |
| Texas | 449 | 66.2°F | 31.1 in |
| Utah | 170 | 49.4°F | 13.9 in |
| Virginia | 119 | 55.8°F | 46.0 in |
| Vermont | 41 | 43.5°F | 43.7 in |
| Washington | 149 | 49.9°F | 40.9 in |
| Wisconsin | 200 | 44.5°F | 34.6 in |
| West Virginia | 99 | 52.3°F | 47.6 in |
| Wyoming | 144 | 43.3°F | 14.0 in |
Derived by PlainClimate from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals · simple averages across each state's varying station-mapped-location cohort · data updated August 2026.
Kentucky Climate in Context
U.S. land-mean temperature anomaly (NOAA NCEI) tracked against global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP). Paris Agreement 1.5°C and 2.0°C thresholds shown as reference lines. Kentucky sits within this national warming envelope; individual station-mapped locations below show local readings against this trend.
- United States (incl. Kentucky) +0.11 °C/decade
- Global (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
- Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Station-mapped locations in Kentucky
95 locations with climate data
Scroll the table to browse every location, or use the complete CSV and JSON exports below.
| Location | Avg Temp | High | Low | Precip | Snow | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | 54°F | 65°F | 43°F | 46.7" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Augusta | 55°F | 66°F | 44°F | 47.5" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Barbourville | 56°F | 68°F | 44°F | 53.8" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Bardstown | 57°F | 67°F | 47°F | 51.6" | 11.9" | 68/100 |
| Bardwell | 58°F | 69°F | 47°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Barren Rvr Lake | 57°F | 68°F | 47°F | 52.7" | 5.6" | 68/100 |
| Baxter | 56°F | 67°F | 45°F | 52.2" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Beattyville | 55°F | 66°F | 45°F | 51.0" | 16.1" | 68/100 |
| Beaver Dam | 57°F | 68°F | 46°F | 52.0" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Benton | 57°F | 70°F | 44°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Berea College | 58°F | 68°F | 49°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Bernheim Forest | 57°F | 68°F | 46°F | 52.5" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Booneville | 55°F | 67°F | 43°F | 51.3" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Bowling Green | 58°F | 67°F | 48°F | 53.0" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Bowling Green Warren County | 59°F | 70°F | 49°F | 50.1" | 8.5" | 68/100 |
| Bradfordsville | 56°F | 68°F | 43°F | 52.4" | 14.5" | 68/100 |
| Brandenburg | 55°F | 67°F | 44°F | 53.3" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Buckhorn Lake | 56°F | 68°F | 44°F | 51.5" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Calhoun Lock | 57°F | 67°F | 47°F | 45.6" | 4.3" | 83/100 |
| Cave Run Lake | 55°F | 65°F | 44°F | 50.8" | 12.3" | 58/100 |
| Charley | 54°F | 67°F | 42°F | 46.1" | N/A | 64/100 |
| Cincinnati Northern KY | 55°F | 64°F | 45°F | 45.3" | 23.3" | 63/100 |
| Corners | 54°F | 67°F | 42°F | 51.5" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Crab Orchard | 57°F | 68°F | 46°F | 50.5" | 7.4" | 68/100 |
| Cressy | 55°F | 66°F | 43°F | 50.9" | N/A | 56/100 |
| Crestwood | 55°F | 66°F | 44°F | 52.9" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Cynthiana | 55°F | 66°F | 43°F | 47.7" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Danville | 55°F | 66°F | 45°F | 47.9" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Dix Dam | 57°F | 67°F | 47°F | 45.9" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Eastern Kentucky Univ | 56°F | 66°F | 45°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Eddyville | 61°F | 71°F | 51°F | 53.1" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Elizabethtown WP CS | 56°F | 66°F | 45°F | 54.4" | 4.5" | 73/100 |
| Elkton | 57°F | 68°F | 47°F | 52.1" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Flemingsburg | 55°F | 65°F | 44°F | 49.8" | 8.8" | 68/100 |
| Frankfort Capital City | 57°F | 67°F | 46°F | 47.3" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Gimlet | 55°F | 65°F | 45°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Glasgow | 60°F | 71°F | 48°F | 54.9" | 5.7" | 68/100 |
| Glencoe | 53°F | 65°F | 41°F | 47.7" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Grayson | 54°F | 67°F | 41°F | 46.1" | 18.1" | 64/100 |
| Greensburg | 57°F | 69°F | 45°F | 51.7" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Heidelberg | 56°F | 67°F | 44°F | 49.7" | 18.2" | 78/100 |
| Henderson | 57°F | 67°F | 47°F | 46.0" | 12.4" | 78/100 |
| Henderson State Police | 57°F | 67°F | 46°F | 47.6" | 0.6" | 83/100 |
| Hodgenville Lincoln P | 57°F | 68°F | 46°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Hopkinsville | 58°F | 68°F | 49°F | 51.8" | 5.2" | 68/100 |
| Inez | 55°F | 67°F | 43°F | 47.7" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Jackson | 57°F | 67°F | 48°F | 51.9" | 23.4" | 63/100 |
| Jamestown Wwtp | 55°F | 66°F | 44°F | 57.0" | 4.9" | 73/100 |
| Kenlake Resort | 59°F | 69°F | 49°F | 55.8" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Knob Lick | 57°F | 67°F | 47°F | 53.5" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Leitchfield | 54°F | 66°F | 42°F | 49.8" | 9.4" | 64/100 |
| Lexington Bluegrass | 56°F | 66°F | 46°F | 49.8" | 14.5" | 78/100 |
| London Corbin | 57°F | 68°F | 46°F | 51.3" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Louisville | 59°F | 68°F | 50°F | 48.3" | 13.4" | 78/100 |
| Louisville Bowman Fld | 58°F | 67°F | 48°F | 48.1" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Louisville Mcalpine | 58°F | 68°F | 49°F | 48.0" | 4.3" | 83/100 |
| Madisonville | 60°F | 69°F | 50°F | 52.2" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Mammoth Cave | 60°F | 72°F | 49°F | 53.5" | 4.0" | 83/100 |
| Manchester | 55°F | 69°F | 42°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Maysville Wwtp | 55°F | 66°F | 44°F | 48.3" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Mcdaniels | 55°F | 65°F | 46°F | 52.8" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Millerstown | 55°F | 67°F | 43°F | 52.7" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Monticello | 56°F | 67°F | 45°F | 52.5" | 14.2" | 68/100 |
| Mt Sterling | 54°F | 66°F | 42°F | 48.5" | 8.8" | 64/100 |
| Mt Vernon | 55°F | 66°F | 45°F | 51.4" | 10.9" | 68/100 |
| Murray | 59°F | 69°F | 48°F | 58.1" | 6.5" | 68/100 |
| Nolin Rvr Lake | 57°F | 70°F | 44°F | 53.9" | 4.7" | 73/100 |
| Olive Hill | 52°F | 63°F | 41°F | 49.8" | 17.5" | 64/100 |
| Oneida | 56°F | 68°F | 44°F | 51.5" | 8.6" | 68/100 |
| Paducah | 59°F | 69°F | 48°F | 50.3" | 8.9" | 68/100 |
| Paintsville | 55°F | 67°F | 43°F | 46.2" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Prestonsburg | 55°F | 67°F | 43°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Princeton | 59°F | 70°F | 47°F | 50.9" | 8.5" | 68/100 |
| Providence | 58°F | 68°F | 47°F | 48.5" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Quicksand | 55°F | 66°F | 43°F | 49.0" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Rochester Ferry | 56°F | 68°F | 44°F | 50.8" | 4.4" | 73/100 |
| Rough Rvr Lake | 57°F | 69°F | 44°F | 51.5" | 4.4" | 73/100 |
| Russellville | 57°F | 68°F | 46°F | 53.9" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Salyersville Wtr Wks | 55°F | 67°F | 43°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Scottsville | 57°F | 68°F | 46°F | 54.0" | 7.6" | 68/100 |
| Shelbyville | 54°F | 67°F | 40°F | 49.8" | N/A | 64/100 |
| Skyline | 56°F | 67°F | 45°F | 49.9" | 16.7" | 78/100 |
| Somerset | 58°F | 68°F | 49°F | 53.3" | 5.4" | 68/100 |
| Stanton | 55°F | 66°F | 44°F | 53.2" | 11.6" | 58/100 |
| Stearns | 55°F | 67°F | 43°F | 56.1" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Summer Shade | 57°F | 71°F | 43°F | 49.6" | 7.2" | 74/100 |
| Taylorsville Lake | 56°F | 69°F | 43°F | 52.5" | N/A | 64/100 |
| Versailles | 55°F | 65°F | 46°F | 48.1" | N/A | 80/100 |
| W Liberty | 54°F | 67°F | 41°F | 46.9" | 12.3" | 64/100 |
| W Paducah | 58°F | 69°F | 48°F | 50.8" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Warnock | 55°F | 66°F | 43°F | 48.2" | 20.8" | 63/100 |
| Warsaw Markland Dam | 55°F | 66°F | 44°F | 47.8" | 6.5" | 78/100 |
| Whitesburg | 54°F | 65°F | 43°F | 50.5" | N/A | 56/100 |
| Williamsburg | 56°F | 68°F | 44°F | 52.0" | 11.2" | 68/100 |
| Williamstown | 56°F | 67°F | 46°F | 45.9" | 16.0" | 78/100 |
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 · 1991-2020 Statewide aggregates for Kentucky computed as the simple average across its 95 station-mapped locations, each represented by its primary NOAA station (199 stations in the state network).
Climate Insight: Kentucky
Kentucky's climate profile is aggregated from 95 station-mapped locations and 199 NOAA weather stations reporting under the 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals program. The statewide average annual temperature sits at 56°F, which is the simple average across all tracked station-mapped locations rather than any single station's reading. Because Kentucky spans multiple latitudes, elevations, and proximities to large water bodies, local conditions can differ from this headline number by wide margins; coastal, valley, and mountain stations often diverge by ten degrees or more even within a single month.
Precipitation and snowfall averages round out the climatological picture. Across Kentucky, annual precipitation averages 50.6 inches, with typical seasonal snowfall near 10.3 inches statewide. These numbers combine rain, sleet, and snow water-equivalent and describe the thirty-year normal rather than any particular recent year. Readers evaluating a specific destination should drill into one of the 95 individual location profiles below; each station record varies with local geography, and the statewide figures here are averages that mask meaningful intrastate differences.
For planning purposes, the location table above is sorted to help you compare averages side-by-side: annual mean temperature, average daily high and low, precipitation totals, snowfall, and PlainClimate's climate comfort score. That 1–100 score combines temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, snowfall burden, and frost-free growing-season length from each location's NOAA normal. It is a climate-only comparison, not a NOAA or overall livability rating. Use it as a starting point, then open each location profile for the exact score inputs, monthly breakdowns, degree-day totals, frost dates, and separately reported humidity metrics.
Nationwide similar states
Other states closest to Kentucky on two NOAA statewide-average axes (annual temperature and annual precipitation). Chip rows use distinct link sets.
Closest by average temperature
Nearest 50-state peers by avg_temp (56°F here).
Closest by annual precipitation
Nearest peers by avg_precip (50.6" here), excluding temperature-peer codes.
- South Carolina 49.8" · 0.8" off
- Georgia 52.0" · 1.4" off
- Arkansas 52.2" · 1.6" off
- North Carolina 52.2" · 1.6" off
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in Kentucky? ▼
Does the climate vary a lot within Kentucky? ▼
Where does Kentucky rank nationally for temperature? ▼
What is the most comfortable station-mapped location in Kentucky? ▼
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). For informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainClimate is rendered directly from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.