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

Lexington, Kentucky Weather

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

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

Lexington, KY
Saturday, July 4 at 4:33 AM
71
°
Clear
Feels like
73°
Humidity
79%
Wind
5 mph
Sunrise
2:20 AM
Sunset
5:04 PM
Lexington, KY
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastLexington, KY: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 69 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 69°H 91°
Lexington, KY
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Overcast
    17%
    —
    91°69°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    61%
    —
    88°72°-3°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Light Drizzle
    38%
    —
    79°66°-9°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Light Drizzle
    27%
    —
    79°63°0°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Clear
    34%
    —
    83°62°+4°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Light Drizzle
    30%
    —
    83°65°0°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    42%
    —
    81°68°-2°
Lexington, KY
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°60°80°100°12a6a12p6pnow 71°high 91°low 69°PRECIP %
Lexington, KY
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
S
180° · veering 18°
Direction
S
180°
Sustained
5
mph
Gust
8
mph
Peak 24h
20
avg 3
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 3 · pk 20 @ 12:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 135SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Lexington, KY
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
980.0
-0.8 mb in 3h · falling · 28.94 inHg
Now
980.0
mb
3h
-0.8
mb
12h
-1.8
mb
24h
-1.7
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 979–984
975980985990-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW984.0979.3979.7
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Lexington, KY
Air quality
54
AQI
Moderate
↓-14 in 6h

AQI 54 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5. AQI down 14 over the last 6 hours (gradual decline). PM2.5 at 9.3 µg/m³ (AQI 51) with a 0.90 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 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.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
9.3μg/m³
PM 10Good
10μg/m³
NO₂Good
8μg/m³
OzoneGood
34μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 9.3 µg/m³ (AQI 51) with a 0.90 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 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/m³340
Lexington, KY
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
0%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
37.7mi
UNLIMITED
88 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
08:33 UTC · Lexington, KY · 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
08:33 UTC · Lexington, KY · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Lexington, KY
Satellite · infrared · animated
Lexington, KY
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Lexington, KY
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
2:20 AM
Daylight
14h 44m
Sunset
5:04 PM
Civil dusk
9:36 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Lexington, KY
The moon
Waning Gibbous
83% illuminated
Moonrise
11:29 PM
Moonset
10:45 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Lexington, KY
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

bird
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Lexington at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 3°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 4 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 40502, 40503, 40504, 40505, 40507, 40508, 40509, 40510 +8 more

15-Day Forecast — Lexington

  1. Sat91°69°17%
  2. Sun88°72°61%
  3. Mon79°66°38%
  4. Tue79°63°27%
  5. Wed83°62°34%
  6. Thu83°65°30%
  7. Fri81°68°42%
  8. Sat84°67°42%
  9. Sun80°68°24%
  10. Mon89°65°12%
  11. Tue84°65°14%
  12. Wed79°59°23%
  13. Thu80°60°32%
  14. Fri83°66°36%
  15. Sat81°67°29%

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

Live wind & temperature near Lexington

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 — Lexington

SPC has placed Lexington in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

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

Lexington's warmest month is July (~77°F mean) and its coldest is January (~34°F). Rainfall peaks in May (5.4 inches) and bottoms out in November (3.4 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January34°3.4″7
February38°3.6″7
March46°4.5″8
April56°4.4″8
May65°5.4″9
June73°5.0″8
July77°5.1″8
August76°3.7″7
September69°3.4″5
October58°3.7″6
November46°3.4″6
December38°4.2″8

Regional context

Lexington swings from 34°F in January to 77°F in July (43°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Lexington runs about 49.8 inches on roughly 84 measurable days.

Rainfall in Lexington stays even across the calendar: May tops out at 5.4 inches over 8.6 rainy days, and November still logs 3.4 inches across 6.1 — a narrow range for Lexington. That lines Lexington up with places like Nicholasville, KY, Keene, KY and Georgetown, KY, fed by overlapping storm tracks.

Around mid-April, Lexington sheds its freezing nights — peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes go into Lexington's beds. Lexington's heat-lovers — tomatoes, peppers, squash — hold off until Lexington's frost risk clears, 10-14 days on. The season ends by mid-November in Lexington, once hard frosts set back in. A creek-bottom lot in Lexington can lag Lexington's last frost 7-10 days behind a south slope.

Similar climates: Nicholasville, KY, Keene, KY, Georgetown, KY, Midway, KY, Versailles, KY.

Naturalist notes

Late April brings the distinctive calls of wood thrushes returning to Lexington's woodlands as trees leaf out.

Redbud trees bloom in early April, their purple-pink flowers appearing before the leaves unfold.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Lexington?
In Lexington, expect the last spring frost near mid-April; Lexington's first autumn frost comes around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Lexington?
May is the wettest month in Lexington, about 5.4 inches on average; the year totals roughly 50 inches.
What is the warmest month in Lexington?
July is Lexington's warmest month, averaging about 77°F.
What is the coldest month in Lexington?
Lexington bottoms out in January, with a mean near 34°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Lexington?
Lexington's last frost (mid-April) cues hardy greens; in Lexington, hold heat-lovers two weeks past.
How many rainy days does Lexington get?
Lexington records around 84 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Lexington?
Lexington's hardiness zone tracks its winter low; with January near 34°F, check the USDA ZIP map for the exact zone.
What is the 10-day forecast for Lexington?
Lexington'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 Lexington?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Lexington in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Lexington?
Current conditions for Lexington and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Lexington forecast updated?
The Lexington forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Lexington?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Lexington 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 Lexington?
The next few days in Lexington's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Lexington's humid subtropical climate in Kentucky pairs 34°F Januarys with 77°F Julys, 43°F apart across the seasons.

In a typical year Lexington records about 50 inches of precipitation on around 84 days.

At 38.0°N, Lexington's 43°F summer-to-winter swing sets when Lexington's gardens wake and when frost returns.

All cities in Kentucky →

Cincinnati, OH weather →

ZIP codes in Lexington

  • 40526
  • 40509
  • 40504
  • 40502
  • 40503
  • 40508
  • 40505
  • 40507
  • 40517
  • 40536
  • 40513
  • 40511
  • 40510
  • 40516
  • 40515
  • 40514
  • 40506
  • 40512
  • 40522
  • 40523
  • 40524
  • 40533
  • 40544
  • 40546
  • 40550
  • 40555
  • 40574
  • 40575
  • 40576
  • 40577
  • 40578
  • 40579
  • 40580
  • 40581
  • 40582
  • 40583
  • 40588
  • 40591
  • 40598

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.