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Weather & Climate in Lafayette, LA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Lafayette has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 71°F (22°C). Winters average 58°F in January while summers reach 85°F in July. The area gets 315 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 39.1 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 51. 49% of days have good air quality. The city sits at an elevation of 39 feet.
Temperature
58°F Jan (15°C)
85°F Jul (30°C)
| Annual Average | 71.1°F |
| 32% above US avg | |
| January Average | 58°F (15°C) |
| July Average | 85°F (30°C) |
| Sunny Days | 315 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Area | 49.4 sq mi (127.8 km²) |
| Population Density | 2,163/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 30.2056°N, 92.0281°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Lafayette Parish County |
| Nearest Airport | Lafayette Regional/Paul Fournet Field (LFT) 2 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 51.0 |
| Rating | Moderate |
| Good Days % | 49.3% |
| Unhealthy Days | 2 |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 95.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 32.4 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 72.8 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Very High |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| 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 | 131 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 | 123 km |
| 2021 | Ida | Category 4 | 150 mph | 126 km |
| 2020 | Laura | Category 4 | 150 mph | 131 km |
| 2020 | Zeta | Category 3 | 115 mph | 178 km |
| 2020 | Delta | Category 2 | 104 mph | 85 km |
| 2019 | Barry | Category 1 | 75 mph | 69 km |
| 2017 | Nate | Category 1 | 86 mph | 274 km |
| 2012 | Isaac | Category 1 | 81 mph | 173 km |
| 2008 | Ike | Category 2 | 109 mph | 277 km |
| 2008 | Gustav | Category 2 | 109 mph | 16 km |
| 2007 | Humberto | Category 1 | 92 mph | 151 km |
| 2005 | Katrina | Category 4 | 144 mph | 233 km |
| 2005 | Rita | Category 3 | 127 mph | 171 km |
| 2005 | Cindy | Category 1 | 75 mph | 217 km |
| 2002 | Lili | Category 3 | 121 mph | 35 km |
| 1997 | Danny | Category 1 | 81 mph | 234 km |
| 1992 | Andrew | Category 4 | 144 mph | 34 km |
| 1989 | Chantal | Category 1 | 81 mph | 219 km |
| 1988 | Florence | Category 1 | 81 mph | 273 km |
| 1986 | Bonnie | Category 1 | 86 mph | 210 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tornado History
583 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 35 fatalities, 629 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 10, 2021 | EF3 | 52 km | 8.7 mi | 1 |
| May 17, 2020 | EF3 | 36 km | 3.9 mi | 1 |
| Feb 23, 2016 | EF3 | 94 km | 7.8 mi | 0 |
| Nov 21, 1992 | EF3 | 96 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 14, 1984 | EF3 | 98 km | 16.0 mi | 0 |
| May 20, 1983 | EF3 | 80 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Feb 9, 1983 | EF3 | 38 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Feb 9, 1983 | EF3 | 26 km | 21.0 mi | 0 |
| Jan 31, 1983 | EF3 | 31 km | 6.0 mi | 1 |
| Jan 31, 1983 | EF3 | 82 km | 5.0 mi | 1 |
| Apr 21, 1977 | EF3 | 13 km | 3.8 mi | 1 |
| Oct 29, 1974 | EF3 | 64 km | 31.3 mi | 2 |
| Oct 29, 1974 | EF3 | 5 km | 7.3 mi | 0 |
| Apr 26, 1973 | EF3 | 97 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Feb 29, 1972 | EF3 | 72 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 16, 1971 | EF3 | 100 km | 7.3 mi | 0 |
| Mar 17, 1970 | EF3 | 90 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Dec 25, 1969 | EF3 | 33 km | 1.5 mi | 1 |
| Dec 25, 1969 | EF3 | 66 km | 13.5 mi | 0 |
| Sep 10, 1961 | EF3 | 35 km | 5.7 mi | 1 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: LACASSINE POOL (16,640 acres, 2005).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2005 | LACASSINE POOL | 16,640 | 90 km |
| 2000 | UNNAMED | 12,496 | 85 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 8,563 | 79 km |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 6,588 | 84 km |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 4,928 | 98 km |
| 1995 | UNNAMED | 4,875 | 67 km |
| 2003 | UNNAMED | 4,872 | 89 km |
| 1996 | UNNAMED | 4,678 | 98 km |
| 2002 | G 1 2 3 | 3,427 | 91 km |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 3,157 | 89 km |
| 2002 | H I J | 3,155 | 89 km |
| 2003 | UNNAMED | 2,853 | 85 km |
| 1996 | UNNAMED | 2,685 | 81 km |
| 1999 | UNIT F 3 | 2,667 | 90 km |
| 1995 | E 2 | 2,567 | 94 km |
| 2003 | UNNAMED | 2,543 | 100 km |
| 2015 | LALCR FY16 RX MARSH AND PRAIRIE | 2,413 | 89 km |
| 1995 | G 2 | 2,136 | 82 km |
| 1999 | UNIT H | 2,011 | 88 km |
| 1996 | UNNAMED | 1,953 | 79 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 58°F (15°C) | 5.9 in | |
| February | 54°F (12°C) | 4.3 in | Driest |
| March | 61°F (16°C) | 4.5 in | |
| April | 68°F (20°C) | 4.6 in | |
| May | 75°F (24°C) | 5.4 in | |
| June | 80°F (27°C) | 5.8 in | |
| July | 85°F (30°C) | 6.3 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 82°F (28°C) | 5.3 in | |
| September | 78°F (26°C) | 5.2 in | |
| October | 69°F (20°C) | 4.3 in | |
| November | 60°F (16°C) | 4.7 in | |
| December | 54°F (12°C) | 5.5 in | Coldest |
Lafayette has a seasonal temperature swing of 32°F / from 54°F in December to 85°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 61.6 inches, with July being the wettest month (6.3") and February the driest (4.3").