Lafayette, Indiana Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Lafayette weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Overcast——85°55°—
- FridayJun 5Overcast45%—88°66°+3°
- SaturdayJun 6Light Showers64%—83°64°-5°
- SundayJun 7Showers56%—83°68°0°
- MondayJun 8Light Drizzle28%—77°69°-6°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast22%—79°67°+2°
- WednesdayJun 10Showers23%0.22″84°68°+5°
PM2.5 at 7.3 µg/m³ (AQI 41) with a 0.94 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust. AQI down 33 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply.
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 35 now. With UV 3.3 peaking around 1 PM under partly cloudy skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 11 by mid-afternoon.
- Present
- AQI 35
- UV peak
- 3.3 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- partly cloudy
- Projected peak
- AQI 11
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 7.3 µg/m³ (AQI 41) with a 0.94 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.94
- Wind
- calm
- Recent rain
- 0h in last 6h
- Pattern
- stagnant smoke
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 4:17 AM
- Moonset
- 1:48 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
Lafayette at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 15°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 18 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
SPC Convective Outlook
Storm Prediction Center — Lafayette
SPC has placed Lafayette in the General Thunderstorms category for severe thunderstorms tomorrow.
- TODAYNONENo severe risk
- TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
- DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.
Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July brings Lafayette's warmest temperatures with a mean of 74°F, while January delivers the coldest at 26°F. Precipitation follows its own pattern, peaking in June at 4.6 inches and reaching its lowest point in February with 1.8 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 2.2″ | 5 |
| February | 30° | 1.8″ | 4 |
| March | 40° | 2.7″ | 6 |
| April | 51° | 3.8″ | 7 |
| May | 62° | 4.0″ | 8 |
| June | 71° | 4.6″ | 8 |
| July | 74° | 4.1″ | 7 |
| August | 72° | 3.1″ | 6 |
| September | 66° | 2.6″ | 5 |
| October | 54° | 2.9″ | 6 |
| November | 41° | 2.9″ | 6 |
| December | 31° | 2.3″ | 5 |
Regional context
Lafayette belongs to a humid subtropical climate region that extends across several nearby cities. This shared climate zone means similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions throughout the area.
Similar climates: Indianapolis, IN, Evansville, IN, Bloomington, IN, Fishers, IN, Carmel, IN.
Naturalist notes
Red-winged blackbirds return to Lafayette's wetlands in March, with males arriving first to establish territories in the cattail marshes.
Sugar maples begin their spring bloom in April, releasing clouds of yellow-green pollen just as their leaves start to unfurl.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Lafayette?
- Lafayette's last spring frost typically occurs around mid-April, while the first fall frost usually arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Lafayette?
- June records the highest rainfall with about 4.6 inches on average, contributing to the city's annual total of roughly 37 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Lafayette?
- July typically brings the warmest weather, with average temperatures around 74°F.
- What is the coldest month in Lafayette?
- January typically delivers the coldest temperatures, averaging about 26°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Lafayette?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-April, while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Lafayette get?
- Lafayette experiences about 72 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Lafayette?
- Lafayette's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature. You can find the current zone designation by checking the USDA's online lookup tool using the city ZIP code.
Climate
Lafayette, Indiana experiences a humid subtropical climate zone. January temperatures typically hover near 26°F, while July averages reach 74°F, creating a 48°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, Lafayette collects about 37 inches of precipitation distributed across roughly 72 rainy days.
Local weather patterns depend on the city's latitude at 40.4°N, its proximity to large water bodies, and elevation. These factors determine what grows in the area, when frost occurs, and the daily weather conditions.