Thorsby has a Humid subtropical climate, characterized by hot summers, cold winters, and abundant rainfall, as most Alabama receives over 50 inches (1,300 mm) of rain annually.

In late winter, normally from January through February, Thorsby normally acquires small amounts of snow accumulation.

The average yearly rainfall in Thorsby is about 59 inches (1,500 mm), with March being the wettest month and October the driest.

The spring and fall months are pleasant but variable as cold fronts frequently bring strong to severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes to the region.

In late summer and fall months, Thorsby experiences occasional tropical storms and hurricanes due to its proximity to the Central Gulf Coast.

One of those earliest settlers was Theodore T. Thorson, for whom the town was eventually named (the suffix "by" meaning "settlement" in Scandinavian languages).

The town grew quickly, with two hotels, a sawmill and lumber company, and two wineries being built within the first couple of years.

The town of Thorsby was declared a promised land for northerners looking to relocate to a warmer climate, suitable for farming and better health.

The fertile soil of the South produced grapes in large numbers, along with other fruits such as strawberries, and the peaches for which Chilton County is famous.

The founders formed the Concordia Land and Improvement Association and began advertising in New England newspapers about the "utopia" they had discovered in the Southeastern United States.

Thorsby is located almost exactly between the downtown areas of Birmingham and Montgomery, with either destination being approximately 45 miles (72 km) from the center of town.

Each autumn, the town of Thorsby celebrates its heritage with the Annual Swedish Festival that includes an arts and crafts fair, a pageant, music, car and motorcycle shows and food native to the American South.

The town maintains the old Norwegian Lutheran Church, now called "Helen Jenkins Chapel".