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USDA Forest Service
Daniel Boone
National Forest
1700 Bypass Road
Winchester, KY 40391
Phone: 859-745-3100
FAX: 859-744-1568
Conditions & Closures: Climate in Kentucky
The climate of Kentucky is temperate with moderately cold winters and
warm, humid summers. Temperature, rainfall, and humidity remain within
limits agreeable to man and are suitable for varied plant and animal
life. All seasons are marked by changes in weather that come from passing
fronts and associated centers of high and low pressures. This activity
is least in late spring and in summer, somewhat greater in fall, and
greatest in winter and in early spring. Temperatures depart from the
average least during the period of greatest activity. Temperatures at
times will be lower-nearer the ground or in local areas subject to extreme
air drainage. At times there may be considerable variation in temperature
in hilly areas. Since the Forest is oriented north and south, the weather
may vary considerably during a frontal passage.
Precipitation is fairly well distributed throughout the year; there are no wet or dry seasons. October has the least rainfall, July the most. Annual free-water evaporation from shallow lakes and farm-ponds averages about 35 inches, which is about 11 inches less than the average annual precipitation. About 74 percent of the evaporation occurs from May to October.
Snowfall is quite variable from year to year, and some winters have relatively little. The greatest annual total recorded for the period of this summary was 44.9 inches in 1960; the least recorded was 3.6 inches in 1949. Thunderstorms average about 46 days each year, most frequently in spring and summer but can occur in any month. They cause most of the short-duration, high intensity rainfall.
The growing season for plants that are killed by temperature of 32° F averages 166 days. The season is 187 days or more in 10 percent of the years, 177 days in 25 percent, 155 days or more in 75 percent, and 145 days or more in 90 percent.
Author: Public Affairs Staff
Last Updated:
November 13, 2007
