What should you know about Louisville's weather?
- NWS office
- Louisville (LMK)
- Climate
- Humid subtropical
- Time zone
- EST/EDT
- Elevation
- 461 ft
- Coordinates
- 38.25° N, 85.76° W
- Nearest radar
- KLVX · Louisville NEXRAD · 22 mi
- County
- Jefferson County, KY
- Yearly rain
- 48.3 in
- Warmest month
- July · 79.9°F average
- Coldest month
- January · 35.7°F average
- Severe storm peak
- May to Jul
How much rain does Louisville get each month?
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 43.6 | 48.3 | 58.1 | 69.6 | 77.8 | 85.7 | 89.0 | 88.4 | 82.2 | 70.5 | 57.6 | 47.2 |
| Low °F | 27.8 | 30.7 | 38.6 | 48.5 | 58.7 | 67.2 | 70.8 | 69.5 | 61.9 | 50.1 | 39.4 | 32.1 |
| Rain (in) | 3.39 | 3.41 | 4.60 | 4.80 | 5.18 | 4.27 | 4.05 | 3.71 | 3.66 | 3.72 | 3.42 | 4.13 |
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Rain (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43.6 | 27.8 | 3.39 |
| Feb | 48.3 | 30.7 | 3.41 |
| Mar | 58.1 | 38.6 | 4.60 |
| Apr | 69.6 | 48.5 | 4.80 |
| May | 77.8 | 58.7 | 5.18 |
| Jun | 85.7 | 67.2 | 4.27 |
| Jul | 89.0 | 70.8 | 4.05 |
| Aug | 88.4 | 69.5 | 3.71 |
| Sep | 82.2 | 61.9 | 3.66 |
| Oct | 70.5 | 50.1 | 3.72 |
| Nov | 57.6 | 39.4 | 3.42 |
| Dec | 47.2 | 32.1 | 4.13 |
LOUISVILLE INTL AP, KY US · 5 mi away · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020
What happened when the 1974 tornado hit Louisville?
On April 3, 1974, a tornado touched down at 5:37 p.m. EDT, one-fourth mile north of Standiford Field Airport, and cut across the city. It tore off part of Freedom Hall's roof at the Fairgrounds, damaged Bardstown Road near Eastern Parkway and demolished many trees in Cherokee Park. It then sliced through Crescent Hill, Brownsboro Road and Northfield, where it was rated F4, before weakening in Oldham County. The twister killed 2 people and injured 225, while 3 others died from heart attacks.
How bad was the 1937 Ohio River flood in Louisville?
It was the deepest Ohio River flood on record at many locations, and its crest at Louisville is still a full ten feet higher than the second highest, set in 1945. Seventy percent of Louisville was submerged, forcing 175,000 residents to flee. At McAlpine Lock the river crested at 85.4 feet, against a flood stage of 55 feet. Louisville received fifteen inches of rain in only 12 days, from January 13 to 24. Over 19 inches fell that month.
Can the Louisville weather radar warn of flash flooding?
It can show the setup, such as storms that keep forming over the same spot, but the warnings come from NWS Louisville. On August 4, 2009, a storm slowed over the city as new cells kept forming along its outflow boundary. Over 7 inches of rain fell in just 2 to 3 hours, with rates up to 8.8 inches per hour, and NWS Louisville issued its first ever Flash Flood Emergency. About 20 University of Louisville buildings flooded, 200 people were rescued from the tops of submerged cars and houses and Interstates 65 and 264 closed.
Does Louisville get ice storms?
Yes, and the January 26 to 28, 2009 ice and snow storm was one of the worst. In the Louisville metro area 205,000 lost power. It took up to 10 days to get everyone hooked back up. Area school systems were closed for an entire week. Statewide, it was Kentucky's largest power outage on record, with 609,000 homes and businesses without power.
What are Louisville's record temperatures?
Louisville's all-time high is 107°F, reached on July 24, 1901, July 28, 1930 and July 14, 1936. The all-time low is -22°F, set on January 19, 1994. That same day, Shelbyville fell to -37°F, Kentucky's all-time record low. In a normal year, the 1991 to 2020 data show 42.7 days at 90°F or hotter.
When should you check the Louisville radar?
Severe storm season
May to JulyAbout 55% of the county's 1996 to 2025 severe reports fall from May to July. Check the loop before a game at Louisville Slugger Field or an evening at Waterfront Park.
Snow season
December 6 to March 14These are Louisville's average dates of first and last measurable snow, based on records since 1885. When a band moves in, drivers on the Gene Snyder Freeway and I-71 check the loop and the hourly temperatures.
What else do people ask about the Louisville radar?
Which NWS office and radar cover Louisville?
NWS Louisville (LMK) issues forecasts and warnings for Louisville. The nearest NEXRAD radar is KLVX, about 22 miles from the city center.
How often does the radar on this page update?
The radar loop on this page updates every 5 minutes.
Is this page an official warning service?
No. It shows radar and forecasts only. For warnings, follow NWS Louisville and local emergency alerts.
Quick facts
- Radar: KLVX (Louisville NEXRAD), a new frame every 5 minutes
- Forecasts and warnings: NWS Louisville (LMK)
- Severe storms peak from May to July (NOAA Storm Events, 1996 to 2025)
- Local time: EST/EDT
- Radar: KLVX, a new frame every 5 minutes
- Warnings: NWS Louisville (LMK)
- Severe storms: May to July
- Local time: EST/EDT
Where does this data come from?
- NOAA NEXRAD radar via Iowa Environmental Mesonet
- National Weather Service, Louisville office
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020: LOUISVILLE INTL AP, KY US
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996 to 2025
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service
- GOES-East satellite imagery
- Open-Meteo forecast API
- OpenStreetMap contributors
- NWS Louisville: The April 3 to 4, 1974 Super Tornado Outbreak
- NWS Louisville: The Ohio River flood of 1937
- NWS Louisville: The August 4, 2009 Louisville flash flood
- NWS Louisville: Ice and snow storm of January 26 to 28, 2009
- NWS Louisville: Louisville temperature extremes
- NWS Louisville: Louisville snow trivia
- NOAA NCEI: 1991 to 2020 annual normals, Louisville