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Weather & Climate in Shelbyville, KY

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

Shelbyville experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 75°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). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 768 feet.

Temperature

31°F Jan (-1°C) 75°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average53.5°F
1% below US avg
January Average31°F (-1°C)
July Average75°F (24°C)
Sunny Days293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation768 ft (234 m)
Area8.2 sq mi (21.3 km²)
Population Density1,747/sq mi
Coordinates38.2068°N, 85.2306°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyShelby County County
Nearest AirportLouisville Muhammad Ali International (SDF)
28 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 49.8"
31% above US avg
Wettest Month (May) 4.92"
Driest Month (Oct) 3.03"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score61.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability46.2 / 100
Community Resilience79.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

16 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.9.

Jan 24, 1990 6 km WNW of Alton, Indiana M3.9 110 km 10 km
Jan 27, 1990 6 km N of Alton, Indiana M3.8 105 km 5 km
Sep 8, 1990 5 km N of Owingsville, Kentucky M3.3 128 km 0 km
Aug 20, 2015 6 km SE of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky M2.8 41 km 34 km
Mar 17, 1999 2 km NNE of Ripley, Ohio M2.8 136 km 0 km
May 11, 2025 11 km SE of High Bridge, Kentucky M2.8 74 km 30 km
Mar 9, 1990 8 km ENE of New Amsterdam, Indiana M2.7 84 km 5 km
Mar 21, 1990 1 km W of Spring Mill, Kentucky M2.7 37 km 4 km
Jan 12, 2023 4 km E of Burgin, Kentucky M2.6 68 km 35 km
Aug 4, 2023 11 km ENE of Lancaster, Kentucky M2.6 90 km 17 km
May 11, 2015 5 km ESE of Maysville, Kentucky M2.6 143 km 11 km
Jan 29, 1990 11 km S of Paoli, Indiana M2.6 111 km 0 km
Jul 23, 2013 6 km NNE of Germantown, Kentucky M2.6 125 km 4 km
Jan 21, 2018 8 km SSE of High Bridge, Kentucky M2.6 71 km 11 km
Jan 28, 2024 3 km SW of Old Washington, Kentucky M2.5 129 km 15 km
Jan 4, 1999 9 km WNW of Mount Sterling, Kentucky M2.5 105 km 10 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

470 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 70 fatalities, 1,969 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Apr 3, 1974 EF5 90 km 20.8 mi 3
Mar 2, 2012 EF4 87 km 45.1 mi 11
Mar 2, 2012 EF4 83 km 9.9 mi 4
May 28, 1996 EF4 46 km 30.0 mi 0
Nov 22, 1992 EF4 46 km 26.7 mi 1
Apr 3, 1974 EF4 80 km 37.9 mi 3
Apr 3, 1974 EF4 45 km 18.5 mi 3
Apr 3, 1974 EF4 22 km 79.4 mi 4
Apr 3, 1974 EF4 59 km 35.6 mi 11
Apr 3, 1974 EF4 84 km 31.9 mi 7
Apr 3, 1974 EF4 63 km 27.1 mi 0
Apr 23, 1968 EF4 91 km 78.7 mi 6
Dec 11, 2021 EF3 91 km 14.5 mi 1
Mar 2, 2012 EF3 97 km 8.7 mi 3
Feb 28, 2011 EF3 17 km 2.3 mi 0
May 8, 2009 EF3 91 km 21.1 mi 2
Oct 18, 2007 EF3 40 km 4.8 mi 0
May 27, 2004 EF3 63 km 3.0 mi 0
Apr 9, 1999 EF3 77 km 15.0 mi 0
Apr 9, 1999 EF3 78 km 3.0 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: JPG 09 1 (6,113 acres, 1998).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
1998 JPG 09 1 6,113 77 km
2005 RX BURNPLAN AREA 2-06 5,054 76 km
2007 UNITS 8-9 2008 4,316 75 km
2006 UNIT 19 06 WUI 3,412 74 km
2003 WUI 3 03 3,372 87 km
2010 WUI UNIT 28K 3,230 89 km
1999 UNNAMED 3,122 87 km
2002 UNIT 8 2,753 75 km
2005 UNIT 3 05 2,511 87 km
2001 01 UNIT 16 2,361 75 km
2011 WUI UNITS 0 AND 1 2011 2,215 75 km
2004 UNIT 19 2,004 74 km
2003 UNIT 8 03 1,971 77 km
2008 FY 09 UNIT 42 RX FALL 2008 1,942 81 km
2000 JPG 14 1,908 75 km
2003 UNIT 16 03 1,809 74 km
2002 UNIT 9 1,485 75 km
1995 UNNAMED 1,462 81 km
2010 TRACER 1,408 89 km
2007 UNNAMED 1,334 77 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 31°F (-1°C) 3.3 in Coldest
February 35°F (2°C) 3.4 in
March 44°F (7°C) 4.4 in
April 54°F (12°C) 4.3 in
May 63°F (17°C) 4.9 in Wettest
June 72°F (22°C) 4.3 in
July 75°F (24°C) 4.7 in Warmest
August 74°F (24°C) 3.8 in
September 68°F (20°C) 3.2 in
October 56°F (13°C) 3.0 in Driest
November 45°F (7°C) 3.8 in
December 36°F (2°C) 4.1 in

Shelbyville has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 31°F in January to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.3 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.9") and October the driest (3.0").

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