Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Lafayette, Indiana Weather

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon. Day 14 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Lafayette weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Lafayette, IN
Saturday, July 4 at 11:08 AM
80
°
Clear
Feels like
88°
Humidity
80%
Wind
6 mph
Sunrise
2:22 AM
Sunset
5:20 PM
Lafayette, IN
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastLafayette, IN: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 70 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit with a 51% chance of precipitation at 9 PM.
L 70°H 88°
Lafayette, IN
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Heavy Rain
    51%
    1.6″
    88°70°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    20%
    —
    83°70°-5°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Light Drizzle
    16%
    —
    82°68°-1°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    —
    —
    80°62°-2°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Clear
    —
    —
    82°63°+2°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Thunderstorm
    45%
    0.04″
    83°67°+1°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    42%
    0.01″
    78°70°-5°
Lafayette, IN
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°66°79°92°12p6p12a6anow 80°high 88°low 70°PRECIP %
Lafayette, IN
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSW
192° · backing 45°
Direction
SSW
192°
Sustained
6
mph
Gust
7
mph
Peak 24h
22
avg 7
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 7 · pk 22 @ 11:00p
010203040MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6B7B8-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 336SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Lafayette, IN
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
992.0
+0.2 mb in 3h · steady · 29.29 inHg
Now
992.0
mb
3h
+0.2
mb
12h
0.0
mb
24h
-2.7
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 991–996
9859909951000STORM|RAIN-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW995.6990.9992.0
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Lafayette, IN
Air quality
33
AQI
Good
↓-7 in 6h▲Peak ~45 @ 9 PM

AQI 33 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI down 7 over the last 6 hours (gradual decline). PM2.5 at 9.0 µg/m³ (AQI 50) with a 0.90 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion during the projected peak around 9 PM.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
9.0μg/m³
PM 10Good
10μg/m³
NO₂Good
3μg/m³
OzoneModerate
97μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
4.5

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 46 now. With UV 5.2 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 32 around 1 PM.

Present
AQI 46
UV peak
5.2 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 32

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 9.0 µg/m³ (AQI 50) with a 0.90 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.90
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Lafayette, IN
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
3%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
38.9mi
UNLIMITED
69 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
15:08 UTC · Lafayette, IN · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
15:08 UTC · Lafayette, IN · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Lafayette, IN
Satellite · infrared · animated
Lafayette, IN
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Lafayette, IN
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:50 AM
Sunrise
2:22 AM
Daylight
14h 58m
Sunset
5:20 PM
Civil dusk
9:55 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Lafayette, IN
The moon
Waning Gibbous
81% illuminated
Moonrise
11:43 PM
Moonset
10:53 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Lafayette, IN
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

bird
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Lafayette at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 9°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 18 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 47901, 47904, 47905, 47909

16-Day Forecast — Lafayette

  1. Sat88°70°51%
  2. Sun83°70°20%
  3. Mon82°68°16%
  4. Tue80°62°5%
  5. Wed82°63°4%
  6. Thu83°67°45%
  7. Fri78°70°42%
  8. Sat84°66°17%
  9. Sun71°61°10%
  10. Mon71°58°11%
  11. Tue75°59°11%
  12. Wed82°62°23%
  13. Thu83°66°33%
  14. Fri82°70°32%
  15. Sat86°67°23%
  16. Sun85°71°39%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Lafayette

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Lafayette

SPC has placed Lafayette in the Slight Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYSLGTSlight Risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Scattered severe storms possible. A few tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind gusts possible.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

Dog-day cicadas emerge in waves, their rasp dominating every sunny hour; heat peaks above 90 degrees daily.

Day 185 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

The year in Lafayette tops out in July (~74°F) and dips lowest in January (~26°F), with June wettest at 4.6 inches and February driest at 1.8 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January26°2.2″5
February30°1.8″4
March40°2.7″6
April51°3.8″7
May62°4.0″8
June71°4.6″8
July74°4.1″7
August72°3.1″6
September66°2.6″5
October54°2.9″6
November41°2.9″6
December31°2.3″5

Regional context

By the nearest station's NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Lafayette sees 26°F Januarys and 74°F Julys, a 48°F range, plus around 37 inches of precipitation across 72 days.

Summer convection drives Lafayette's precipitation: June logs 4.6 inches on 7.8 rainy days, against February's 1.8 inches on 4.3 — warm-season storms carry Lafayette's moisture. It is a warm-season-wet pattern Lafayette shares with places like West Lafayette, IN, Dayton, IN and Shadeland, IN.

The cool-season window in Lafayette starts at mid-April, when nights stop freezing — think kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. Warm-soil crops in Lafayette wait about two weeks past Lafayette's last frost, once the soil warms. Around mid-November, freezing nights resume in Lafayette and tender crops must come in. Within Lafayette, cold-air pooling chills low spots by 5-10°F, shifting Lafayette's local frost dates.

Similar climates: West Lafayette, IN, Dayton, IN, Shadeland, IN, Battle Ground, IN, Buck Creek, IN.

Naturalist notes

Red-winged blackbirds return to Lafayette's wetlands in March, with males arriving first to establish territories in the cattail marshes.

Sugar maples begin their spring bloom in April, releasing clouds of yellow-green pollen just as their leaves start to unfurl.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Lafayette?
In Lafayette, expect the last spring frost near mid-April; Lafayette's first autumn frost comes around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Lafayette?
Rainfall in Lafayette peaks in June near 4.6 inches, out of about 37 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in Lafayette?
July is Lafayette's warmest month, averaging about 74°F.
What is the coldest month in Lafayette?
Lafayette bottoms out in January, with a mean near 26°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Lafayette?
Lafayette's last frost (mid-April) cues hardy greens; in Lafayette, hold heat-lovers two weeks past.
How many rainy days does Lafayette get?
Expect roughly 72 wet days a year in Lafayette.
What hardiness zone is Lafayette?
Lafayette's USDA zone comes from its January mean (26°F); enter the ZIP on the USDA lookup for the number.
What is the 10-day forecast for Lafayette?
Lafayette's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Lafayette?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Lafayette in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Lafayette?
Current conditions for Lafayette and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Lafayette forecast updated?
The Lafayette forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Lafayette?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Lafayette are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Lafayette?
The next few days in Lafayette's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Lafayette's humid subtropical climate in Indiana pairs 26°F Januarys with 74°F Julys, 48°F apart across the seasons.

In a typical year Lafayette records about 37 inches of precipitation on around 72 days.

At 40.4°N, Lafayette's 48°F summer-to-winter swing sets when Lafayette's gardens wake and when frost returns.

All cities in Indiana →

Indianapolis, IN weather →

ZIP codes in Lafayette

  • 47909
  • 47905
  • 47904
  • 47901
  • 47902
  • 47903

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.