El Niño in Louisville, KY
In 1 of 3 past super El Niño winters, Louisville was wetter than normal. It was warmer than normal in all 3.
The wettest of them was 2015–16: 12.41 inches, 111% of normal — 20th wettest of 78.
History from three winters, not a forecast. Measured at one NOAA station, Louisville; record since Dec–Feb 1948–49.
December–February in the three super El Niño winters
| Winter | Precipitation | Average temperature |
|---|---|---|
| 1982–83Dec 1982–Feb 1983 | 8.28 in−2.86 in vs normal · 74%tied 15th driest of 78 | 39.8 °F+1.6 °F vs normaltied 18th warmest of 77 |
| 1997–98Dec 1997–Feb 1998 | 8.28 in−2.86 in vs normal · 74%tied 15th driest of 78 | 41.5 °F+3.3 °F vs normaltied 8th warmest of 77 |
| 2015–16Dec 2015–Feb 2016 | 12.41 in+1.27 in vs normal · 111%20th wettest of 78 | 41.7 °F+3.5 °F vs normaltied 5th warmest of 77 |
| Normal1991–2020 average | 11.14 in | 38.2 °F |
Ranks are within this station’s own record: 78 winters for precipitation, 77 for temperature. Source: NOAA NCEI Climate at a Glance, Louisville precipitation and temperature, as of November 11, 2026.
This winter: where NOAA’s outlook places Louisville
For December–February 2026–27, the Climate Prediction Center’s map places Louisville in equal chances of above-, near- or below-normal precipitation (no tilt either way), and in the 40–50% area for above-normal temperature.
Read from the contours of CPC’s seasonal outlook issued October 15, 2026 — the area the city falls in on a continental-scale map, not a forecast made for the city. CPC seasonal outlook maps. CPC reissues it monthly.
Read next
- What El Niño means for the Northeast and Midwest
- Kentucky statewide in the same three winters (against a 1901–2000 normal, so the departures differ from this page)
- Winter 2026–27 outlook
- Current El Niño status
Other cities in the Ohio Valley climate region: Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Columbus, Indianapolis. All 50 cities