The best times to visit Kentucky for ideal weather are

April 9th to June 10th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Kentucky Travel Info

Weather in Kentucky

Temperature

Average temperatures in Kentucky vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a low chance of precipitation most of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 35th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Kentucky, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late July where highs are regularly around 87.9°F (31.1°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 67.4°F (19.7°C) at night.

Kentucky Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Kentucky Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Kentucky Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Kentucky Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Kentucky Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 44 34 26
Feb 45.3 34.5 25.8
Mar 59.2 47.1 37.5
Apr 70.4 57.9 46.8
May 78.9 67.5 57.1
Jun 85.8 74.4 64.2
Jul 87.3 76.4 67.1
Aug 86.6 75.1 65.1
Sep 81 68.9 59
Oct 69.3 57.2 47.1
Nov 58.1 46.4 36.7
Dec 50.2 41 33.5

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 6.7 1.1 -3.3
Feb 7.4 1.4 -3.4
Mar 15.1 8.4 3.1
Apr 21.3 14.4 8.2
May 26.1 19.7 13.9
Jun 29.9 23.6 17.9
Jul 30.7 24.7 19.5
Aug 30.3 23.9 18.4
Sep 27.2 20.5 15
Oct 20.7 14 8.4
Nov 14.5 8 2.6
Dec 10.1 5 0.8

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Kentucky are August, November, and then September. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early November. For example, on the week of November 5th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late April with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of April 23rd.

When can you find snow in Kentucky? Weather stations report a good amount of seasonal snow likely to be deepest around February, especially close to mid February. The best time to ski (if at all) in Kentucky is often around around December 17th when fresh powder is deepest. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Kentucky.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Kentucky (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 12% 2 2
Feb 13% 3.1 1.9
Mar 16% 3 2.8
Apr 18% 1.2 3.7
May 16% 0 3
Jun 15% 0 2.5
Jul 16% 0 3.1
Aug 10% 0 2
Sep 12% 0 2.2
Oct 12% 0 2.3
Nov 12% 1.7 2
Dec 19% 2.2 3.1

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 12 5.1 5.1
Feb 13 7.9 4.8
Mar 16 7.6 7.1
Apr 18 3 9.4
May 16 0 7.6
Jun 15 0 6.4
Jul 16 0 7.9
Aug 10 0 5.1
Sep 12 0 5.6
Oct 12 0 5.8
Nov 12 4.3 5.1
Dec 19 5.6 7.9

 

Humidity and Wind

Kentucky has some high humidity months, with other comfortably humid months. The least humid month is April (51.7% relative humidity), and the most humid month is December (68.3%).

Wind in Kentucky is usually calm. The windiest month is February, followed by January and April. February’s average wind speed of around 6.1 knots (7.1 MPH or 11.4 KPH) is considered “a light breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early April where average top sustained speeds reach 14.3 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Kentucky.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 5.9 Light breeze 12.5 Significant breeze
Feb 6.1 Light breeze 12.9 Significant breeze
Mar 5.9 Light breeze 12.7 Significant breeze
Apr 5.9 Light breeze 13.4 Significant breeze
May 4.4 Light breeze 11 Significant breeze
Jun 4.1 Light breeze 10.9 Gentle breeze
Jul 3.4 Barely noticeable 9.9 Significant breeze
Aug 3 Barely noticeable 8.9 Gentle breeze
Sep 3.4 Barely noticeable 9.2 Significant breeze
Oct 4.5 Light breeze 10.7 Gentle breeze
Nov 5 Light breeze 11.2 Significant breeze
Dec 5.5 Light breeze 11.6 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 60.8%
Feb 56.7%
Mar 55.2%
Apr 51.7%
May 60.5%
Jun 63.1%
Jul 67.8%
Aug 65.4%
Sep 65.2%
Oct 61.5%
Nov 57.1%
Dec 68.3%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Kentucky?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Kentucky, United States is June, followed by July and April. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Kentucky in November. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is somewhat extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 40.4 in November means 40.4% of the tourists vs. June.

 

 

Overall Kentucky Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 82.6°F (28.1°C) and 49.2°F (9.6°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with roughly 5 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are quite warm. These months see moderate precipitation with 3 to 5 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Kentucky, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 85.2°F (29.6°C) and 53.9°F (12.2°C), which will feel comfortable given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: approximately 4 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is too cold this time of year in Kentucky to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 50.8°F (10.4°C) and 41.7°F (5.4°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 4 to 6 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › Kentucky, United States