Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Baton Rouge has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 71°F (22°C). Winters average 58°F in January while summers reach 86°F in July. The area gets 316 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 39.9 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 42. The city sits at an elevation of 46 feet.
Temperature
58°F Jan (14°C)86°F Jul (30°C)
Annual Average
71.1°F
32% above US avg
January Average
58°F (14°C)
July Average
86°F (30°C)
Sunny Days
316 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
46 ft (14 m)
Area
86.9 sq mi (225.2 km²)
Population Density
2,573/sq mi
Coordinates
30.4404°N, 91.1332°W
Timezone
America/Chicago
County
East Baton Rouge Parish County
Nearest Airport
Acadiana Regional (ARA) 53 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall39.9"
5% above US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Jul)6.26"
Driest Month (Oct)3.86"
Air Quality
AQI Median
42.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
98.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability
66.4 / 100
Community Resilience
59.6 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very High
Hurricane
Very High
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively High
Hail
Relatively High
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively High
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Very High
Ice Storm
Relatively High
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively High
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
1 earthquake (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.0.
Aug 2, 2010
16 km ESE of Clinton, Louisiana
M3.0
50 km
0 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
23 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 4.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2024
Francine
Category 2
104 mph
96 km
2021
Ida
Category 4
150 mph
37 km
2020
Laura
Category 4
150 mph
217 km
2020
Zeta
Category 3
115 mph
121 km
2020
Delta
Category 2
104 mph
174 km
2019
Barry
Category 1
75 mph
139 km
2017
Nate
Category 1
86 mph
195 km
2012
Isaac
Category 1
81 mph
131 km
2008
Gustav
Category 2
109 mph
75 km
2007
Humberto
Category 1
75 mph
237 km
2005
Katrina
Category 4
144 mph
148 km
2005
Rita
Category 3
127 mph
260 km
2005
Cindy
Category 1
75 mph
170 km
2002
Lili
Category 3
121 mph
122 km
1998
Georges
Category 2
109 mph
214 km
1997
Danny
Category 1
81 mph
182 km
1992
Andrew
Category 4
144 mph
55 km
1989
Chantal
Category 1
81 mph
300 km
1988
Florence
Category 1
81 mph
210 km
1986
Bonnie
Category 1
86 mph
293 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tornado History
575 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 28 fatalities, 684 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Dec 6, 1983
EF4
72 km
7.0 mi
0
Apr 10, 2021
EF3
83 km
8.7 mi
1
Dec 16, 2019
EF3
87 km
29.3 mi
0
Feb 7, 2017
EF3
30 km
6.4 mi
0
Feb 23, 2016
EF3
50 km
7.8 mi
0
Aug 25, 1992
EF3
78 km
9.0 mi
2
Oct 14, 1984
EF3
23 km
16.0 mi
0
May 20, 1983
EF3
93 km
2.0 mi
0
Dec 13, 1977
EF3
79 km
20.4 mi
0
Apr 21, 1977
EF3
80 km
3.8 mi
1
Oct 29, 1974
EF3
95 km
7.3 mi
0
Apr 26, 1973
EF3
8 km
0.3 mi
0
Feb 29, 1972
EF3
26 km
1.0 mi
0
Sep 16, 1971
EF3
10 km
7.3 mi
0
Mar 17, 1970
EF3
84 km
1.0 mi
0
Dec 25, 1969
EF3
40 km
13.5 mi
0
Apr 12, 1969
EF3
35 km
10.7 mi
0
Jan 28, 1966
EF3
97 km
0.1 mi
0
Nov 7, 1957
EF3
80 km
3.6 mi
0
Oct 15, 1957
EF3
91 km
37.9 mi
1
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: UNNAMED (4,768 acres, 2013).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2013
UNNAMED
4,768
99 km
2014
UNNAMED
4,022
91 km
2014
UNNAMED
2,666
97 km
2022
HOMOCHITTO BB24
2,458
99 km
2010
HOMOCHITTO BURN BLOCK 48
2,394
100 km
2024
HOMOCHITTO BB28 SUB3 RX
2,279
91 km
2016
UNNAMED
2,229
95 km
2022
HOMOCHITTO BB25
2,183
99 km
2021
HOMOCHITTO BB26
2,008
94 km
2010
BURN BLOCK 14
1,502
97 km
2020
HOMOCHITTO BB24 SUB 5
1,462
99 km
2022
HOMOCHITTO BB 36N
1,357
96 km
2018
UNNAMED
1,218
94 km
2006
UNNAMED
1,206
85 km
2024
HOMOCHITTO 36 N RX
1,194
96 km
2016
UNNAMED
1,174
96 km
2024
HOMOCHITTO BB 35 RX
1,173
93 km
2024
HOMOCHITTO BB39 S2 RX
1,129
94 km
2019
HOMOCHITTO RX BB 65 SUB 2
1,118
95 km
2013
UNNAMED
1,108
95 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
58°F (14°C)
5.8 in
February
54°F (12°C)
5.2 in
March
61°F (16°C)
5.2 in
April
68°F (20°C)
5.3 in
May
75°F (24°C)
5.2 in
June
80°F (27°C)
5.3 in
July
86°F (30°C)
6.3 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
82°F (28°C)
5.9 in
September
78°F (26°C)
5.1 in
October
69°F (20°C)
3.9 in
Driest
November
60°F (15°C)
4.5 in
December
54°F (12°C)
5.4 in
Coldest
Baton Rouge has a seasonal temperature swing of 33°F / from 54°F in December to 86°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 63.0 inches, with July being the wettest month (6.3") and October the driest (3.9").