KENTUCKY — Kentucky is no stranger to unpredictable weather, but the idea of snow falling in September may sound unusual.
While the state is far more accustomed to late autumn and winter storms, historical records show that snowfall during September, though extremely rare, has occurred in parts of the Commonwealth.
According to the National Weather Service, Kentucky’s climate generally delays measurable snowfall until late November or December.
In most parts of the state—including Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green—no measurable September snowfall has ever been officially recorded.
The state’s geography plays a role: lower elevations in central and western Kentucky are generally too warm for snow that early in the season. Eastern Kentucky’s higher elevations, particularly in the Cumberland Mountains, are the only areas with a slim historical chance of seeing flakes in September.
Climatologists note that when snow has occurred that early, it has been fleeting—typically a dusting that melted quickly.
The rarity is underscored by the fact that Kentucky averages its first measurable snowfall in late November to early December, depending on location. For much of the state, the chance of September snow is so low it is considered a weather anomaly rather than a seasonal trend.
In short, while September snow in Kentucky is not entirely impossible, it remains an extraordinary event that stands out in the state’s weather history.
