Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend! It was a hot one—but hey, what else is expected for the 4th of July weekend? While the heat remains, classic summertime downpours have made a return, adding to what’s already been an exceptionally wet year across the Bluegrass State. With a full month of summer now behind us, I wanted to send out a quick update with a look back at June, where we stand for the year, and what we might expect as we move forward.

June 2025 Summary

The official numbers are in, and in what’s starting to feel like a broken record, June brought yet another month of above-normal rainfall across Kentucky. The state averaged 5.47 inches for the month, making it our 20th wettest June on record—and the wettest since 2019. Overall, we've now seen three straight months of above normal rainfall and June follows what was our 4th wettest spring in Kentucky history.

The heaviest totals were found across the western half of the state, where many locations topped 6 inches (maps below). The data shows Western Kentucky averaged 6.74 inches, which sits at #8 on the wettest Junes recorded for that region. Continuing a trend we’ve seen all year, we had another station break the 10-inch mark—this time it was the Hart County Mesonet Station, which recorded 10.16 inches for the month. For a station close to you, here is a link to the June report.

That said, it is summer, and with that comes the usual hit-or-miss nature of pop-up storms. This led to some drier pockets, especially across the Northern Bluegrass and parts of Eastern Kentucky, where some counties ended up 1–2 inches below normal. Even though it’s been a wet year overall, it only takes a couple of dry weeks this time of year for drought concerns to creep in. Fortunately, those drier areas did pick up some decent rainfall over the past few days.

Back in May, a lot of folks were wondering when summer heat would finally show up. Well… wish granted! June 2025 ended up being our 15th warmest June on record (out of 131 years), and the warmest since 2018. Most of that heat came during the second half of the month, when daytime highs regularly climbed into the 90s. That said, humidity is what makes the heat oppressive and it returned in full force. Dewpoints (a measure of moisture in the air) frequently climbed into the 70s, which is when things start to feel really uncomfortable. When that happens, heat indices—what it actually feels like—can soar into the triple digits. In fact, the National Weather Service in Paducah noted that most locations in their area saw seven straight days (June 21–27) with heat indices over 100°F—something that hasn’t happened since 2009.

Annual Summary

While it’s been wet lately, the truth is—it’s been that way for most of the year. As of now, Kentucky has already averaged 37.12 inches of precipitation, which is over 10 inches above normal for this point in the year. This number ranks #2 in the record books with data going back to 1895. To put that into perspective, the state typically averages just 50.36 inches for the entire year. And we’re only halfway through 2025!

Some locations have already surpassed that annual average. According to the Kentucky Mesonet, Marshall County leads the way with 52.06 inches, followed closely by Green County at 51.45 inches (graphic below).

Unfortunately, all this rain hasn’t come without its fair share of severe weather. In addition to the flooding events in February and April, we’ve also seen multiple rounds of damaging winds and tornadoes across the state.

To put things in perspective, the graphic below is a look at the accumulated number of Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings issued by the National Weather Service, courtesy of the Iowa Environmental Mesonet. As we head into July, Kentucky currently ranks 2nd all-time for the number of warnings issued by this point in the year.

So far, 874 warnings have been issued—already surpassing all but three YEARS going back to 1986. That’s a strong reminder of just how active and impactful that 2025 has been from a severe weather standpoint.

Moving forward

Thanks to all the rain we’ve had this year, Kentucky is in pretty good shape as we head into the dog days of summer. Soil moisture remains solid across most of the state, and streamflows are looking healthy too—according to the USGS, most streams are running at normal to above-normal levels.

That said, this time of year can bring rapid changes. Precipitation has shifted into the typical summertime “hit-or-miss” pattern, and we’re starting to see a few dry spots emerge. According to this morning’s U.S. Drought Monitor, a small sliver of 'Abnormally Dry conditions' has popped up in the Northern Bluegrass, where showers have been more scattered in recent weeks. This is actually the first time since late January that any part of Kentucky has been flagged as abnormally dry.

Through July 9th, the state has averaged 0.81 inches of rainfall since the start of the month—but again, it’s been all about location. Some folks have already picked up over 2 inches, while others are still sitting under a tenth!

Looking ahead, diurnally driven storms (those afternoon pop-ups) will likely be the rule of thumb over the next week with fluctuating coverage. If you’re lucky enough to be under one of these storms, you could see an inch or more in a hurry. If not… well, it might be time to perfect your rain dance!

The long-range outlooks for the rest of July are leaning toward above-normal precipitation, though not strongly enough to guarantee a wet stretch. Still, the trend is encouraging for keeping soil moisture in decent shape. The new seasonal drought outlook (map below) continues leaning toward no drought over the next few months. Let's hope this trend continues!

What’s new this week is a noticeable shift in the temperature outlooks. For the period of July 16–24, models are hinting at a cooler-than-normal pattern for the High Plains and Midwest regions, thanks to what looks to be a strong cold front—especially for July standards. Normal highs this time of year range from the mid to upper 80s, with lows in the mid to upper 60s. So while it won’t exactly be chilly, it'll be some reprieve from the recent heat and humidity.

Final Thoughts: Stay Safe in the Summer Heat

As we wrap up this update, just a quick reminder to take the summer heat seriously. We’ve already experienced one heat wave, and chances are we’ll see more before the season is over. Heat can sneak up on anyone if we aren't taking precautions. Please take it easy out there!

Make sure to:

• Stay hydrated throughout the day
• Take breaks when working outdoors
• Wear loose, light-colored clothing
• Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (graphic below)

Don’t forget the animals, too! The Ag Weather Center’s Livestock Heat Stress Index is expected to peak in the danger category each afternoon and evening over the upcoming week. That means precautions are essential to keep animals safe and healthy. Shade, adequate ventilation, and plenty of cool, clean water are a must. If you need to work or transport animals, try to get it done early in the morning. More info on heat stress mitigation measures can be found in a recent UK Ag Communications article, here.

Related News from UK and Beyond

Kentucky Pest News - UK Extension Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science Specialists, July 1, 2025

UK Grain Crops - UK Martin-Gatton CAFE Grain and Forage Center of Excellence

Kentucky Forage News - July 1, 2025

Watching and Waiting for Corn Diseases - Dr. Kiersten Wise, Plant Pathology Extension Specialist, July 9, 2025

Kentucky Beef Cattle Newsletter "Off the Hoof" - Beef IRM Team, July 1, 2025

Drought Status Update for the Midwest - National Integrated Drought Information System, June 26, 2025

High heat prompts livestock safeguards across Kentucky - Jordan Strickler, UK M-G CAFE Communications, July 2 , 2025

Kentucky Weather Alert App

This ad-free app from the UK Ag Weather Center is an excellent resource for staying safe and informed. It provides daily and hourly forecasts, high-resolution radar, National Weather Service alerts sent directly to your phone, and a link to this update. Without any distracting ads, this app can act as another reliable warning source during tonight’s severe weather. Be sure to check it out by scanning or clicking the QR codes below to download the app on both iOS and Google Play platforms.