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Weather & Climate in Rochester, KY
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Rochester enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 77°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 50.8 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 4.4 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 430 feet.
Temperature
34°F Jan (1°C)
77°F Jul (25°C)
| Annual Average | 56.1°F |
| 4% above US avg | |
| January Average | 34°F (1°C) |
| July Average | 77°F (25°C) |
| Sunny Days | 299 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 430 ft (131 m) |
| Area | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km²) |
| Population Density | 419/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 37.2086°N, 86.8924°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Butler County County |
| Nearest Airport | Bowling Green-Warren County Regional (BWG) 31 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 41.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 18.1 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 51.9 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 18.6 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
26 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.6.
| Jun 18, 2002 | 6 km SW of Parkers Settlement, Indiana | M4.6 | 116 km | 16 km |
| Jan 24, 1990 | 6 km WNW of Alton, Indiana | M3.9 | 110 km | 10 km |
| Dec 7, 2000 | 7 km W of Evansville, Indiana | M3.9 | 107 km | 5 km |
| Jan 27, 1990 | 6 km N of Alton, Indiana | M3.8 | 116 km | 5 km |
| May 30, 2023 | 6 km W of Calhoun, Kentucky | M3.0 | 53 km | 0 km |
| Jan 3, 2003 | 9 km SW of Mount Vernon, Indiana | M2.9 | 119 km | 2 km |
| Nov 28, 1998 | 6 km SW of Bremen, Kentucky | M2.9 | 35 km | 0 km |
| Apr 28, 2000 | 6 km W of Equality, Illinois | M2.9 | 147 km | 1 km |
| Jan 28, 1991 | 9 km SW of Sacramento, Kentucky | M2.8 | 41 km | 1 km |
| Mar 9, 1990 | 8 km ENE of New Amsterdam, Indiana | M2.7 | 121 km | 5 km |
| Aug 15, 2001 | 5 km SSE of Spottsville, Kentucky | M2.7 | 80 km | 19 km |
| Mar 6, 2000 | 0 km E of Darmstadt, Indiana | M2.7 | 116 km | 5 km |
| Sep 12, 2015 | 5 km SE of Corydon, Kentucky | M2.6 | 88 km | 17 km |
| Feb 27, 2020 | 5 km SW of Bremen, Kentucky | M2.6 | 35 km | 27 km |
| Aug 26, 2000 | 6 km N of Boonville, Indiana | M2.6 | 105 km | 5 km |
| Jan 29, 1990 | 11 km S of Paoli, Indiana | M2.6 | 143 km | 0 km |
| Jan 8, 1995 | Kentucky | M2.6 | 29 km | 30 km |
| Jul 8, 2001 | 7 km SE of Franklin, Tennessee | M2.6 | 148 km | 0 km |
| Mar 22, 1990 | 9 km E of Rochester, Kentucky | M2.6 | 9 km | 5 km |
| Aug 9, 2025 | 2 km ESE of Cynthiana, Indiana | M2.6 | 128 km | 19 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
479 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 92 fatalities, 1,206 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 3, 1974 | EF5 | 66 km | 32.0 mi | 31 |
| Apr 3, 1974 | EF5 | 97 km | 68.0 mi | 6 |
| Nov 15, 2005 | EF4 | 57 km | 15.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 3, 1974 | EF4 | 37 km | 14.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 27, 1970 | EF4 | 87 km | 42.6 mi | 3 |
| Dec 9, 2023 | EF3 | 87 km | 47.2 mi | 4 |
| Dec 11, 2021 | EF3 | 41 km | 28.0 mi | 0 |
| Dec 11, 2021 | EF3 | 41 km | 29.3 mi | 16 |
| Nov 17, 2013 | EF3 | 53 km | 8.2 mi | 0 |
| Apr 26, 2011 | EF3 | 82 km | 2.6 mi | 0 |
| Apr 10, 2009 | EF3 | 54 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 2009 | EF3 | 93 km | 12.4 mi | 0 |
| Feb 6, 2008 | EF3 | 94 km | 9.4 mi | 4 |
| Feb 5, 2008 | EF3 | 30 km | 18.1 mi | 3 |
| Oct 18, 2007 | EF3 | 67 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 7, 2006 | EF3 | 99 km | 22.7 mi | 7 |
| Apr 2, 2006 | EF3 | 74 km | 29.7 mi | 0 |
| May 11, 2003 | EF3 | 41 km | 1.8 mi | 0 |
| May 4, 2003 | EF3 | 97 km | 11.5 mi | 0 |
| Apr 28, 2002 | EF3 | 89 km | 22.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
19 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: FLOATING MILL HOLLOW (2,422 acres, 2010).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2010 | FLOATING MILL HOLLOW | 2,422 | 71 km |
| 2008 | BROOKS KNOB | 2,225 | 61 km |
| 2012 | FY2012 CRYSTAL CAVE BROADCAST BURN | 2,221 | 74 km |
| 2010 | JOPPA CHURCH | 2,037 | 67 km |
| 2004 | JIM LEE | 1,770 | 70 km |
| 2009 | TEMPLE HILL | 1,628 | 60 km |
| 2009 | JIM LEE | 1,613 | 70 km |
| 2007 | DEAD DEER | 1,557 | 10 km |
| 2007 | Big Woods | 1,500 | 74 km |
| 2008 | GOBLIN KNOB | 1,445 | 72 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 1,336 | 98 km |
| 2019 | UNNAMED | 1,057 | 99 km |
| 1999 | UNNAMED | 1,039 | 8 km |
| 2024 | LONG RUN RX | 774 | 98 km |
| 2007 | DENNISON FERRY RX | 655 | 76 km |
| 2000 | UNNAMED | 641 | 53 km |
| 2019 | UNNAMED | 584 | 98 km |
| 2010 | ROCKHOUSE HOLLOW RX | 581 | 98 km |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 576 | 74 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34°F (1°C) | 3.5 in | Coldest |
| February | 37°F (3°C) | 4.1 in | |
| March | 47°F (8°C) | 4.7 in | Wettest |
| April | 57°F (14°C) | 4.3 in | |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4.7 in | |
| June | 73°F (23°C) | 3.9 in | |
| July | 77°F (25°C) | 4.3 in | Warmest |
| August | 76°F (25°C) | 3.5 in | |
| September | 70°F (21°C) | 3.9 in | |
| October | 58°F (15°C) | 2.9 in | Driest |
| November | 48°F (9°C) | 4.5 in | |
| December | 38°F (4°C) | 4.6 in |
Rochester has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 34°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 48.7 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.7") and October the driest (2.9").