Lafayette, LA climate
Lafayette has warm winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 91°, a January night drops to 42°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Lafayette feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Lafayette weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 62° | 42° | 5.9" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 45° – 60° |
| February | 66° | 46° | 4.4" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 47° – 65° |
| March | 73° | 52° | 3.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 56° – 69° |
| April | 79° | 58° | 5.0" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 64° – 73° |
| May | 85° | 66° | 5.3" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 73° – 79° |
| June | 90° | 72° | 6.8" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 79° – 84° |
| July | 91° | 74° | 6.0" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 81° – 85° |
| August | 92° | 74° | 6.3" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 79° – 86° |
| September | 89° | 69° | 5.2" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 76° – 82° |
| October | 81° | 59° | 4.7" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 66° – 75° |
| November | 71° | 49° | 4.6" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 55° – 65° |
| December | 64° | 44° | 4.8" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 47° – 61° |
| Year | 79° | 59° | 62.7" | 0.0" | 111 | 0 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Lafayette
Lafayette gets 63 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and March the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 111 days a year.
About 299 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by February 13 and the first one by December 4. That leaves about 299 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 95% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Lafayette
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Lafayette, 31% of that work is heating and 69% is cooling, so air conditioning is the bigger bill.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
Lafayette and its neighbors
Lafayette borders 4 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.8°. Carencro has the coldest January nights (42°) and Scott the hottest July afternoons (92°). Lafayette’s January low is 42° and its July high 91°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Lafayette compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Lafayette averaged 0.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+1.4°). The shift is smaller than in 85% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Lafayette’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. February swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 47° to 65°. July is the most reliable, staying within 4°.
Common questions about Lafayette’s climate
What is the coldest month in Lafayette?
January, with a typical high of 62° and a low of 42°.
What is the hottest month in Lafayette?
August, with a typical high of 92° and a low of 74°. About 91 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Lafayette get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.0 inches.
When is the first frost in Lafayette?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by December 4, and the last spring frost by February 13.
What is the rainiest month in Lafayette?
June, with 6.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 63 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Lafayette itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Lafayette, LA (2 mi, snow) and Lafayette Rgnl Airport, LA (2 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.