Weather & Climate in Olive Hill, KY

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

Olive Hill experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 293 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 49.8 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 17.5 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 848 feet.

Temperature

31°F Jan (-1°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)

Annual Average	52.3°F
	3% below US avg
January Average	31°F (-1°C)
July Average	72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days	293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	848 ft (258 m)
Area	1.8 sq mi (4.7 km²)
Population Density	748/sq mi
Coordinates	38.3058°N, 83.1682°W
Timezone	America/New_York
County	Carter County County
Nearest Airport	Greater Portsmouth Regional (PMH) 41 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 49.8"

31% above US avg

Snowfall 17.5"

Wettest Month (Jul) 5.12"

Driest Month (Jan) 2.99"

Air Quality

AQI Median	41.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Relatively Low
Risk Score	52.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability	61.6 / 100
Community Resilience	11.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Relatively Low
Hurricane	Very Low
Earthquake	Very Low
Wildfire	Very Low
Flood	Relatively Low
Hail	Very Low
Strong Wind	Relatively Low
Heat Wave	Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather	Relatively Low
Lightning	Relatively Low
Ice Storm	Relatively Low
Drought	Very Low
Cold Wave	Very Low
Landslide	Relatively Moderate

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

29 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	130 km	17 km
Feb 19, 1995	8 km SSE of Rocky Fork Point, Ohio	M3.6	94 km	10 km
May 24, 2017	1 km S of McArthur, Ohio	M3.4	119 km	10 km
Apr 24, 2009	7 km ENE of Rio Grande, Ohio	M3.4	100 km	8 km
Sep 8, 1990	5 km N of Owingsville, Kentucky	M3.3	54 km	0 km
Nov 8, 1990	5 km SW of Blackey, Kentucky	M3.2	134 km	0 km
Feb 3, 2025	2 km NNW of Oak Hill, Ohio	M3.1	85 km	26 km
Apr 25, 2020	2 km SE of South Shore, Kentucky	M2.9	49 km	27 km
May 6, 2002	3 km SE of Racine, Ohio	M2.8	132 km	5 km
Mar 17, 1999	2 km NNE of Ripley, Ohio	M2.8	77 km	0 km
May 11, 2025	11 km SE of High Bridge, Kentucky	M2.8	140 km	30 km
May 22, 2024	18 km SSE of Hyden, Kentucky	M2.7	144 km	13 km
Jan 12, 2023	4 km E of Burgin, Kentucky	M2.6	149 km	35 km
Aug 4, 2023	11 km ENE of Lancaster, Kentucky	M2.6	134 km	17 km
May 11, 2015	5 km ESE of Maysville, Kentucky	M2.6	57 km	11 km
Jun 6, 2014	13 km NNE of Sissonville, West Virginia	M2.6	143 km	30 km
Mar 8, 2016	0 km N of Thurman, Ohio	M2.6	92 km	20 km
Feb 11, 2015	8 km SE of Richmond Dale, Ohio	M2.6	101 km	20 km
Mar 16, 2012	7 km SE of Alum Creek, West Virginia	M2.6	124 km	5 km
Jul 23, 2013	6 km NNE of Germantown, Kentucky	M2.6	81 km	4 km

Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

188 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 24 fatalities, 411 injuries.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Apr 23, 1968	EF5	54 km	34.0 mi	7
Mar 2, 2012	EF3	59 km	85.0 mi	10
Mar 2, 2012	EF3	68 km	49.0 mi	2
May 10, 2003	EF3	59 km	25.0 mi	0
Apr 3, 1974	EF3	72 km	4.9 mi	0
Apr 3, 1974	EF3	68 km	15.5 mi	1
Apr 23, 1968	EF3	50 km	0.1 mi	0
May 7, 1967	EF3	57 km	2.0 mi	0
Apr 8, 1965	EF3	46 km	6.9 mi	0
Apr 8, 1965	EF3	65 km	2.0 mi	0
Jun 9, 1961	EF3	91 km	2.6 mi	1
Feb 10, 1959	EF3	98 km	10.5 mi	0
Apr 2, 2024	EF2	96 km	1.9 mi	0
Apr 2, 2024	EF2	36 km	1.1 mi	0
Jul 4, 2016	EF2	52 km	2.6 mi	0
Mar 2, 2012	EF2	64 km	11.1 mi	1
Feb 29, 2012	EF2	51 km	6.3 mi	0
May 8, 2002	EF2	95 km	3.0 mi	0
Jun 15, 2000	EF2	83 km	2.5 mi	0
May 18, 1995	EF2	34 km	2.0 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	96 km
1987	UNNAMED	38,312	81 km
1991	JENNINGS CREEK	29,308	87 km
1987	UNNAMED	21,562	61 km
1987	UNNAMED	20,994	62 km
2001	UNNAMED	18,013	98 km
1999	UNNAMED	17,759	94 km
1987	UNNAMED	14,554	87 km
1991	UNNAMED	14,264	94 km
1987	UNNAMED	13,124	81 km
1987	UNNAMED	10,817	71 km
1991	UNNAMED	10,183	77 km
1995	UNNAMED	10,148	86 km
2001	UNNAMED	8,287	75 km
1994	UNNAMED	8,123	97 km
1987	UNNAMED	8,047	100 km
1987	UNNAMED	7,281	59 km
1987	MILL CREEK ROAD	7,029	71 km
1987	UNNAMED	6,456	100 km
1987	UNNAMED	6,337	47 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	31°F (-1°C)	3.0 in	Coldest, Driest
February	34°F (1°C)	3.1 in
March	43°F (6°C)	3.9 in
April	53°F (11°C)	3.8 in
May	61°F (16°C)	4.7 in
June	69°F (21°C)	4.0 in
July	72°F (22°C)	5.1 in	Wettest
August	73°F (23°C)	3.9 in	Warmest
September	66°F (19°C)	3.2 in
October	55°F (13°C)	3.0 in
November	45°F (7°C)	3.4 in
December	36°F (2°C)	3.8 in

Olive Hill has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 31°F in January to 73°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 44.9 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.1") and January the driest (3.0").

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