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

Louisville, Kentucky Weather

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

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

Louisville, KY
Saturday, July 4 at 2:39 PM
87
°
Clear
Feels like
97°
Humidity
59%
Wind
8 mph
Sunrise
2:24 AM
Sunset
5:09 PM
Louisville, KY
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastLouisville, KY: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 75 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 75°H 90°
Louisville, KY
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Overcast
    —
    —
    90°70°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    26%
    —
    87°75°-3°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Light Drizzle
    38%
    —
    84°71°-3°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    14%
    —
    85°68°+1°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Clear
    11%
    —
    91°67°+6°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Overcast
    25%
    —
    93°70°+2°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    51%
    0.01″
    95°74°+2°
Louisville, KY
Next 24 hours · Warm now
HOT 90°72°83°94°12p6p12a6anow 87°high 90°low 75°PRECIP %
Louisville, KY
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SW
232° · veering 122°
Direction
SW
232°
Sustained
8
mph
Gust
9
mph
Peak 24h
18
avg 4
Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE 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 4 · pk 18 @ 12:00a
010MPHB1B2B3B4-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 108SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze veering 122° from the sw.
Louisville, KY
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
995.4
-1.2 mb in 3h · falling · 29.39 inHg
Now
995.4
mb
3h
-1.2
mb
12h
-1.0
mb
24h
-2.6
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 995–998
9909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW998.1995.4995.4
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low still deepening — rough seas, strong wind, persistent rain.
Louisville, KY
Air quality
48
AQI
Good
↓-5 in 6h▲Peak ~75 @ 11 PM

AQI 48 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI down 5 over the last 6 hours (gradual decline). Ozone at AQI 83 now. With UV 8.9 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 98 around 1 PM.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5Good
6.6μg/m³
PM 10Good
7μg/m³
NO₂Good
1μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERUnhealthy SG
127μg/m³
UV IndexVery high
8.9

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 83 now. With UV 8.9 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 98 around 1 PM.

Present
AQI 83
UV peak
8.9 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 98

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 6.6 µg/m³, PM10 at 7.4 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.89
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
background

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/m³420
Louisville, KY
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
2%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
62.8mi
UNLIMITED
67 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
18:39 UTC · Louisville, 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
18:39 UTC · Louisville, KY · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Louisville, KY
Satellite · infrared · animated
Louisville, KY
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Louisville, KY
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:54 AM
Sunrise
2:24 AM
Daylight
14h 45m
Sunset
5:09 PM
Civil dusk
9:41 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Louisville, KY
The moon
Waning Gibbous
79% illuminated
Moonrise
11:35 PM
Moonset
10:50 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Louisville, KY
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

bird
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Louisville at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 14°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 5 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 40202, 40203, 40204, 40205, 40206, 40207, 40208, 40209 +26 more

16-Day Forecast — Louisville

  1. Sat89°70°6%
  2. Sun87°75°26%
  3. Mon84°71°38%
  4. Tue85°68°14%
  5. Wed91°67°11%
  6. Thu93°70°25%
  7. Fri95°74°51%
  8. Sat86°75°46%
  9. Sun81°66°21%
  10. Mon82°61°11%
  11. Tue87°62°13%
  12. Wed90°63°14%
  13. Thu89°69°16%
  14. Fri91°69°23%
  15. Sat78°71°26%
  16. Sun80°67°39%

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

Live wind & temperature near Louisville

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 — Louisville

SPC includes Louisville in the general thunderstorm area today — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

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

In Louisville, July runs warmest near 79°F and January coldest around 35°F, while May is the wettest month (4.8 inches) and August the driest (3.3 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January35°3.5″6
February38°3.5″6
March47°4.5″8
April58°4.8″8
May68°4.8″8
June76°4.4″8
July79°3.5″6
August78°3.3″6
September72°3.9″5
October60°3.5″5
November47°3.8″6
December39°4.5″7

Regional context

Louisville swings from 35°F in January to 79°F in July (45°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Louisville runs about 48 inches on roughly 79 measurable days.

Louisville's precipitation spreads evenly: May peaks at 4.8 inches on 8.0 wet days, while August holds 3.3 inches over 5.5 — no month dominates Louisville's rain calendar. It is a balanced pattern Louisville shares with places like Hollow Creek, KY, Spring Mill, KY and West Buechel, KY.

Once Louisville passes mid-April, overnight freezes fade and peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes can be sown. Tomatoes and peppers do best set out two weeks later in Louisville, once nights clear the mid-40s°F. By mid-November, frost is back in Louisville — protect or harvest anything tender. Louisville's low ground holds frost later into spring than Louisville's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Hollow Creek, KY, Spring Mill, KY, West Buechel, KY, Poplar Hills, KY, Watterson Park, KY.

Naturalist notes

Late April often brings the distinctive call of wood thrushes returning to Louisville's woodlands as spring migration peaks.

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

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Louisville?
Frost typically leaves Louisville by mid-April and returns to Louisville near mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Louisville?
Rainfall in Louisville peaks in May near 4.8 inches, out of about 48 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in Louisville?
July is Louisville's warmest month, averaging about 79°F.
What is the coldest month in Louisville?
Louisville bottoms out in January, with a mean near 35°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Louisville?
Louisville's last frost (mid-April) cues hardy greens; in Louisville, hold heat-lovers two weeks past.
How many rainy days does Louisville get?
Louisville records around 79 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Louisville?
Louisville sits in the USDA zone set by January lows near 35°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Louisville?
Louisville'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 Louisville?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Louisville in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Louisville?
Current conditions for Louisville and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Louisville forecast updated?
The Louisville forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Louisville?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Louisville 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 Louisville?
The next few days in Louisville's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Louisville, Kentucky has a humid subtropical climate: January averages roughly 35°F, July about 79°F, 44°F between them.

Across the year, Louisville collects about 48 inches of precipitation over roughly 79 days with measurable rain or snow.

Latitude 38.2°N gives Louisville its 44°F swing, and with it the rhythm of Louisville's growing season.

All cities in Kentucky →

ZIP codes in Louisville

  • 40245
  • 40242
  • 40241
  • 40218
  • 40219
  • 40214
  • 40216
  • 40211
  • 40213
  • 40059
  • 40291
  • 40299
  • 40220
  • 40223
  • 40222
  • 40229
  • 40228
  • 40023
  • 40272
  • 40207
  • 40209
  • 40258
  • 40118
  • 40018
  • 40027
  • 40225
  • 40261
  • 40268
  • 40269
  • 40281

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.