Sign In Register

Weather & Climate in Clay City, KY

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Clay City experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 299 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 53.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 11.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 615 feet.

Temperature

33°F Jan (0°C) 74°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average54.6°F
1% above US avg
January Average33°F (0°C)
July Average74°F (24°C)
Sunny Days299 days/yr

Geography

Elevation615 ft (187 m)
Area1.1 sq mi (2.7 km²)
Population Density1,275/sq mi
Coordinates37.8608°N, 83.9297°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyPowell County County
Nearest AirportLake Cumberland Regional (SME)
67 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 53.2"
40% above US avg
Snowfall 11.6"
Wettest Month (Jul) 4.92"
Driest Month (Oct) 2.83"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score31.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability87.2 / 100
Community Resilience21.2 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

31 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.2.

Nov 10, 2012 6 km W of Blackey, Kentucky M4.2 111 km 17 km
Aug 17, 1990 9 km NNW of Loyall, Kentucky M4.0 114 km 1 km
Sep 17, 2004 8 km ESE of Corbin, Kentucky M3.7 103 km 1 km
Feb 19, 1995 8 km SSE of Rocky Fork Point, Ohio M3.6 146 km 10 km
Sep 8, 1990 5 km N of Owingsville, Kentucky M3.3 40 km 0 km
Nov 8, 1990 5 km SW of Blackey, Kentucky M3.2 115 km 0 km
Jan 27, 2009 4 km NE of Williamsburg, Kentucky M3.2 122 km 26 km
Jan 17, 1999 7 km NNW of Flat Lick, Kentucky M3.1 108 km 1 km
Apr 25, 2020 2 km SE of South Shore, Kentucky M2.9 128 km 27 km
Aug 20, 2015 6 km SE of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky M2.8 81 km 34 km
Mar 17, 1999 2 km NNE of Ripley, Ohio M2.8 101 km 0 km
Mar 8, 2015 1 km SE of Pleasant View, Kentucky M2.8 133 km 9 km
May 11, 2025 11 km SE of High Bridge, Kentucky M2.8 61 km 30 km
Oct 30, 2017 2 km N of Artemus, Kentucky M2.7 112 km 3 km
May 22, 2024 18 km SSE of Hyden, Kentucky M2.7 110 km 13 km
Jan 22, 2018 13 km ENE of Flat Lick, Kentucky M2.7 110 km 26 km
Nov 8, 1990 6 km WSW of Cumberland, Kentucky M2.7 127 km 3 km
Jan 12, 2023 4 km E of Burgin, Kentucky M2.6 70 km 35 km
May 11, 2019 5 km ENE of Pleasant View, Kentucky M2.6 130 km 25 km
Aug 4, 2023 11 km ENE of Lancaster, Kentucky M2.6 52 km 17 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

249 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 38 fatalities, 1,022 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Apr 3, 1974 EF4 53 km 31.9 mi 7
Apr 23, 1968 EF4 98 km 78.7 mi 6
Mar 2, 2012 EF3 60 km 49.0 mi 2
Mar 2, 2012 EF3 28 km 85.0 mi 10
May 8, 2009 EF3 53 km 21.1 mi 2
May 27, 2004 EF3 58 km 3.0 mi 0
May 10, 2003 EF3 86 km 25.0 mi 0
Apr 3, 1974 EF3 100 km 21.1 mi 1
Apr 3, 1974 EF3 14 km 4.9 mi 0
Apr 3, 1974 EF3 68 km 19.3 mi 0
Jun 29, 1973 EF3 82 km 0.5 mi 0
Apr 23, 1970 EF3 71 km 0.5 mi 0
May 7, 1967 EF3 85 km 2.0 mi 0
Jun 9, 1961 EF3 23 km 2.6 mi 1
Mar 4, 1955 EF3 48 km 8.9 mi 0
Dec 11, 2021 EF2 81 km 0.6 mi 0
Mar 2, 2012 EF2 78 km 7.2 mi 6
Feb 29, 2012 EF2 49 km 6.3 mi 0
Feb 6, 2008 EF2 68 km 3.5 mi 0
Jan 2, 2006 EF2 90 km 8.7 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (66,145 acres, 1987).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
1987 UNNAMED 66,145 67 km
1987 UNNAMED 20,994 89 km
2001 UNNAMED 18,013 79 km
1999 UNNAMED 17,759 96 km
1987 UNNAMED 13,124 97 km
1987 UNNAMED 10,817 58 km
2001 UNNAMED 8,287 93 km
1987 UNNAMED 8,099 96 km
1987 UNNAMED 8,047 95 km
2001 CRANE CREEK 7,555 72 km
2001 COOL SPRINGS 7,477 95 km
1987 UNNAMED 7,281 73 km
2001 UNNAMED 6,628 86 km
1987 UNNAMED 6,456 52 km
1987 UNNAMED 6,337 71 km
1987 LOCUST GAP 6,014 61 km
2001 UNNAMED 5,981 83 km
1999 UNNAMED 5,823 67 km
1987 UNNAMED 5,426 52 km
1991 UNNAMED 4,980 97 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 33°F (0°C) 3.0 in Coldest
February 35°F (2°C) 3.4 in
March 44°F (7°C) 4.2 in
April 54°F (12°C) 4.1 in
May 63°F (17°C) 4.7 in
June 71°F (22°C) 4.1 in
July 74°F (24°C) 4.9 in Warmest, Wettest
August 74°F (23°C) 4.0 in
September 68°F (20°C) 3.5 in
October 56°F (13°C) 2.8 in Driest
November 46°F (8°C) 3.7 in
December 37°F (3°C) 4.1 in

Clay City has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 33°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 46.4 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.9") and October the driest (2.8").

View full profile of Clay City, KY →