WKU News

So far, 2025 is the wettest year on record for the state of Kentucky. Preliminary rainfall statistics from across Kentucky indicate that January – April 2025 is the wettest such period in the 130-year climate record of the state. In the four-month period, the Kentucky Climate Center, Western Kentucky University recorded a statewide average of 26.42 inches, exceeding the old statewide record of 25.65 inches set in 1939, beating the previous record by 0.77 inches. 

Three of four climate divisions across the state also set new records. Western, Central, and Bluegrass regions set new January-April records of 28.74 inches, 30.60 inches, and 25.49 inches, respectively. The Central region of Kentucky, including the area from Louisville to Bowling Green to Campbellsville, exceeded the previous record set in 1939 by a whopping 3.17 inches. While not setting a record, Eastern Kentucky had its 11^th wettest January-April with 22.29”.

The new four-month record was largely driven by a very wet February and April. February was the 6^th wettest on record with a statewide average of 8.29 inches, and April was the 2^nd wettest on record with a state average 9.54 inches. Only April 2011 was wetter with a state average 12.07 inches.

The wet start to the year has been defined by two major flood events. A major statewide flood occurred February 14-16, 2025 across much of Kentucky with 48-hour precipitation totals of 2 to 6+ inches recorded across the entire state. Twelve river gauge sites recorded top five crests with the event. Across the Commonwealth the rains were responsible for ten fatalities, over 1,000 water rescues, and 40,000+ customers without power. Disaster declarations were issued for 18 counties. A second major statewide flood event occurred April 2-6, 2025, with 5-day rainfall totals of 5 to 15+ inches over all but southeastern Kentucky. At least five river gauge sites along the Kentucky and Green rivers recorded top three crests. The floods were responsible for seven fatalities, major infrastructure damage, and over 500 road closures including several major interstates. Disaster declarations were issued for 13 counties.

The wet year continues a long-term trend of a warmer and wetter Kentucky. Five of the top ten wettest years in Kentucky’s 130-year weather history have occurred since 2011. Those five years are 2011, 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Kentucky’s wettest year remains 2011 with a total 64.35 inches, followed by 2018 with 63.74 inches. Kentucky averages 50.36 inches in a normal year.

Spring 2025 has also gotten off to a warm start. A combined March and April were 8^th warmest on record for the state. March and April were 3.9 ⁰F and 3.3 ⁰F above average, respectively. Seven of the top 11 warmest years in Kentucky’s 130-year record have occurred since 2007 (2007, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024). Kentucky’s hottest year was 2024 with an average temperature of 58.8 ⁰F, about 2.5 ⁰F above-average.