Kansas sits right in the heart of America, and its continental climate delivers four true seasons. Locals and visitors know the weather can flip fast—one day it’s hot and sticky, and the next you’re digging out your winter coat.
If you’re trying to get a handle on Kansas’s monthly weather patterns, you’ll want to be ready for anything. January can chill you to the bone at 31°F, while July’s heat regularly climbs to 82°F. Spring and fall don’t stick around long, but they do give a short break between the extremes.
Weather can look pretty different depending on where you are in Kansas. Folks out east deal with more humidity and rain, while the west feels drier and almost desert-like at times. These month-to-month changes shape everything from what farmers plant to when people hit the road, so knowing what’s coming is a must if you want to make the most of the Sunflower State.
Monthly Weather Patterns in Kansas
Kansas weather really swings with the seasons. Winter lows can dip near 15°F, and summer highs sometimes shoot past 90°F. Rain peaks in spring and early summer, and humidity and clouds seem to have a mind of their own as the months roll by.
Temperature Ranges by Month
Winter brings the coldest air to Kansas. In January, you’ll see averages from 15°F up to 40°F depending on where you are. February doesn’t give much relief, sticking to similar chilly numbers.
March signals the start of spring warmth. Temperatures start climbing into the 50s and 60s. April keeps the upward trend, and plenty of spots see highs in the 70s.
Summer Heat Builds Steadily
May usually hits the upper 70s or low 80s. June really settles into summer, with highs in the 80s and sometimes low 90s.
July and August? They’re the hottest months. Afternoon temps break 90°F all the time, and nights rarely cool below the 60s or 70s.
Fall Cooling Pattern
September hangs on to warmth, with highs in the 80s. October brings a real drop, with most places seeing highs in the 60s or 70s.
November feels cooler, and highs fall to the 50s. December ushers in winter again, with temperatures sliding back toward freezing.
Rainfall and Precipitation Trends
Spring delivers the most rain in Kansas. April and May usually get 3 to 4 inches each month. Thunderstorms show up often, and severe weather isn’t rare.
Summer Precipitation Patterns
June keeps the storms coming, and there’s still a good bit of rain. July and August? Rainfall drops off, but storms can still pop up.
Afternoon and evening storms get pretty common in summer. Sometimes these downpours are intense but short-lived.
Seasonal Transitions
Rain starts tapering off in September and October. By winter, Kansas sees the least precipitation of the year.
Snow takes over from December to February. Northern and western Kansas usually get more snow than the south.
Spring rolls around, and the moisture picks up again. Storms and rain return as the cycle repeats.
Humidity Fluctuations
Kansas summers get sticky. July and August especially bring the highest humidity, and it can feel pretty oppressive.
Mornings are the worst for humidity in summer. By afternoon, the heat and moisture together can get uncomfortable fast.
Seasonal Humidity Changes
Spring sees humidity creep up as temps rise. May and June feel noticeably more humid.
Winter dries things out. January and February have the lowest humidity, which can leave your skin and hair feeling parched.
Fall brings a steady drop in humidity from September through November. By October and November, the air feels quite dry as winter nears.
Cloud Cover Variations
Spring brings a lot of cloudy days, thanks to all the storm activity. April and May tend to be pretty overcast and unpredictable.
Summer Sky Patterns
Early summer mixes it up—a few clouds, then sudden afternoon storms. July can be a toss-up, with both clear and cloudy spells.
By late summer, skies clear out more often. August sometimes offers long stretches of sunshine.
Clear Winter Skies
Winter is usually the sunniest time in Kansas. December through February see lots of clear days and not much cloud cover.
Fall acts as a transition. September and October bring fewer clouds as storm season winds down.
Seasonal Breakdown of Kansas Weather
Kansas goes through big temperature swings and shifting rainfall as the seasons change. Each one has its own quirks that shape daily life and outdoor plans.
Winter Monthly Characteristics
Kansas winter runs from December to February with cold temps and changing snowfall. January is the coldest, averaging around 31°F.
December kicks off winter, dropping to an average of 35°F. Snow starts piling up in the north and west. Cold fronts from Canada can bring sudden, sharp drops.
January is the toughest month. Temperatures range from 15°F up to 40°F. Snow falls regularly, especially up north. Wind chills make it feel even colder.
February stays cold, though it starts to warm up a bit. Average temps nudge up to 36°F. Ice storms sometimes hit, messing with travel and power. Snow often lingers.
Winter usually brings about 1 inch of precipitation each month. Northern Kansas picks up more snow than the south. Cold winds from the north make it feel even more bitter.
Spring Monthly Conditions
Spring in Kansas is wild—temperatures jump around and storms ramp up. The season shifts quickly from winter’s chill to summer’s heat.
March starts the change, with averages around 46°F. You might still see some snow early on. Rain becomes more common as things warm. Severe storms can start late in the month.
April keeps warming up, averaging 57°F. Rain jumps to about 3 inches. Tornado season kicks in, especially in central Kansas. Plants and flowers start waking up.
May feels like real spring, averaging 67°F. It’s the wettest month, with 4.4 inches of rain. Thunderstorms are frequent and can get intense. Wildflowers fill the prairies.
Spring storms can bring tornadoes, hail, and strong winds. Temperatures might swing 30-40 degrees in a single day. Flooding is possible if heavy rain hits.
Summer Monthly Conditions
Kansas summer is hot and humid, especially out east. Afternoon storms offer some relief but can get nasty fast.
June brings averages around 77°F. Humidity rises, and storms often roll in late in the day. Days stretch out close to 15 hours.
July is peak summer, with averages at 82°F. Highs sometimes soar past 95°F. The heat index can get dangerous. Droughts sometimes set in during dry stretches.
August stays hot, averaging 80°F. Nights remain muggy. Late-season severe storms pop up now and then. Crops reach maturity in the fields.
Summer rainfall averages 3-4 inches a month. Most of it falls during afternoon and evening storms. Heat waves can drag on for days.
Autumn Monthly Conditions
Autumn in Kansas brings cooler air and gorgeous fall colors. Honestly, it’s some of the nicest weather all year.
September starts the season with averages dropping to 71°F. Humidity drops off a lot. Severe storms fade away. Fall colors begin up north.
October is pretty much perfect, with temps near 59°F. Most days are clear. Leaves hit their peak color. First frost shows up in northern counties.
November signals winter’s approach, with averages at 46°F. Rain drops to about 1.4 inches. First snow is possible. Days get noticeably shorter.
Autumn usually means stable weather and fewer storms. Temperatures still bounce around but not as wildly as in spring. Rain drops off compared to earlier in the year.
Monthly Extremes and Notable Weather Events
Kansas weather doesn’t hold back—summer heat can break records, and winter cold can be brutal. Tornado season is a real thing here, especially in spring and early summer.
Typical Highs and Lows
January is the coldest month. Southern Kansas averages highs around 40°F, while the north sees mid-30s.
Nights often drop below 20°F everywhere. The coldest temps usually show up in late January or early February.
July is the hottest stretch. Afternoon highs regularly hit 90-95°F.
Western Kansas can get even hotter, sometimes topping 100°F. Summer nights rarely cool below 70°F.
Spring Temperature Swings:
- March: Temps can swing 30°F or more in a single day
- April: Last freezes usually happen
- May: First 90°F days start showing up
Fall Cooling Patterns:
- September: Highs fall from the 80s to the 70s
- October: First frost hits the north
- November: Highs settle into the 50s and 60s
Storms and Severe Episodes
Tornado season peaks between April and June. Kansas averages about 96 tornadoes each year, with May being the busiest.
Peak Severe Weather Months:
- April: First big tornado outbreaks
- May: Most tornadoes hit
- June: Severe storms still a threat
Large hail is a spring problem too. Some storms drop stones 2-4 inches wide.
Severe thunderstorms can bring damaging winds over 75 mph. Sometimes, you get hail, wind, and rain all at once.
Summer Storm Patterns:
Flash flooding is the main worry in July and August. Some storms dump 3-6 inches of rain in just a few hours.
Winter brings blizzards and ice storms. These usually hit between December and March.
Monthly Record Temperatures
Kansas has temperature records that cover more than 150 degrees. The hottest? Alton hit 121°F in July 1936.
Record High Temperatures by Season:
- Winter: 85°F in February
- Spring: 102°F in March
- Summer: 121°F in July
- Fall: 99°F in October
The coldest reading dropped to -40°F in Lebanon in February 1905. Most record lows happened during the brutal winters of the early 1900s.
Notable Cold Snaps:
January 1912 saw temps plunge below -30°F across much of Kansas. The cold stuck around for days.
February 2021 brought widespread readings below -20°F. That cold snap was a recent reminder that extremes still happen.
Heat Wave Records:
Summer 1936 is still the gold standard for heat waves. Many spots went over 115°F for several days in a row.
The 1950s drought years brought more record heat. Some of those records still haven’t been broken.
Daylight Duration and Sunshine by Month
Kansas days get a lot longer and shorter as the year goes on. In summer, daylight lasts over 14 hours, but winter days shrink below 10. The state enjoys plenty of sunshine most of the year, and summer months often bring 10-11 hours of bright sun each day.
Daylight Hours Throughout the Year
Daylight really changes with the seasons in Kansas. December is the shortest, with only about 9 hours and 30 minutes of daylight. January’s not much longer.
Spring brings longer days quickly. March averages 12 hours of daylight, thanks to the equinox. By April, it’s nearly 13 and a half hours.
Summer brings the longest days. June peaks with 14 hours and 45 minutes of daylight at the solstice. July stays above 14 and a half hours.
Fall slowly cuts back daylight. September drops to 12 and a half hours. October falls to 11 hours as the days shrink.
Kansas’s central location means daylight changes feel gradual, not as wild as up north.
Monthly Sunshine Averages
Kansas gets a surprising amount of sunshine all year. In the summer, July and August usually bring the most, with about 10 to 11 hours of sunshine every day.
Peak sunshine months:
- July: 11 hours daily
- August: 10.5 hours daily
- June: 10 hours daily
Spring isn’t too shabby either. May averages 9 hours of sunshine, and April gives you about 8 hours of clear skies.
Winter cuts back a bit, but it’s still pretty bright. December and January average 6 to 7 hours of sunshine, while February bumps up to almost 7.5 hours.
Kansas sits far from big lakes or mountain ranges, so the skies stay clear more often. You’ll notice western Kansas usually gets more sun than the east, mostly because it’s less humid out there.
Wind Patterns and Air Quality
Kansas feels pretty breezy most of the year, though the direction and speed change with the seasons. Air quality shifts too, depending on weather, farming, and what’s blowing in from other regions.
Monthly Wind Speeds and Gusts
Wind speeds in Kansas stay pretty steady, no matter the season. During winter, from January through March, the average is around 8 mph.
Seasonal Wind Direction Changes:
- Winter (December-March): Winds come mostly from the north
- Spring-Fall: The winds bounce around more, shifting between south and west
On January 1st, those northern winds peak, blowing from the north about 33% of the time. This pattern sticks around for almost three months.
Kansas’s spot on the map helps keep the air moving. The flat land lets winds sweep across without much in their way. You won’t see big changes in wind speed like you might in mountain states.
Severe Weather Considerations:
Thunderstorms can really ramp up the wind. Sometimes, the northern Plains see derechos—those wild storms that can whip up gusts over 75 mph.
Air Quality Fluctuations
Air quality in Kansas cities, like Kansas City, usually rates as “Good” on the Air Quality Index. Farming and changing weather can nudge those numbers up or down.
Key Air Quality Factors:
- PM2.5 levels: Fine particles from dust and farm work
- Seasonal variations: Spring planting and fall harvest times
- Weather influence: Wind helps push pollutants out of the way
On clear days, you can see for about 10 kilometers. Humidity, usually around 63%, affects how long stuff hangs in the air.
Wind speed really matters for air quality. When it’s breezy, pollutants get swept away from cities. The average 8 mph winds help keep the air fresher than in places where the air just sits.
Rural Kansas tends to have cleaner air than the cities. But during planting and harvest, farm dust can spike particle levels for a while.
Travel Tips Based on Monthly Weather in Kansas
Kansas weather swings a lot through the year, so timing your trip can make a big difference. Spring and fall usually feel the nicest. Summer gets hot, and winter can be pretty rough.
Best Months for Visiting
Late spring through early fall gives you the best weather. From May to October, most folks find the temperatures comfortable.
May brings pleasant temps between 55°F and 75°F. It’s a great time to get outside.
June through August is full-on summer. Temperatures jump from 65°F up to 95°F, with July usually the hottest.
Cities like Topeka and Kansas City sometimes top 110°F on the worst days. The urban heat island effect can make it feel even hotter in the city.
September and October are fantastic for visits. Expect anything from 47°F to 80°F, plus some beautiful fall colors.
These months mean fewer crowds and mild weather. September still feels like summer, while October brings that crisp autumn air.
Winter from December through February is the toughest. Temps can drop to 15°F and rarely go above 42°F, with a real chance of snow.
Western Kansas gets about 10 to 20 inches of snow a year. The eastern side usually sees 6 to 12 inches during winter.
Seasonal Considerations for Outdoor Activities
Spring activities require tornado awareness and flexible planning. Kansas sits right in Tornado Alley, and tornadoes tend to show up most often from March through June.
Thunderstorms pop up a lot during spring. If you’re traveling, keep an eye on the forecast and always have an indoor backup plan in your back pocket.
Summer outdoor activities demand heat precautions. If you want to avoid heat exhaustion, aim for early mornings or late evenings.
Humidity can make it feel way hotter than the thermometer says, especially in places like Wichita and Great Bend.
Fall provides excellent hiking and camping conditions. From September through October, you’ll find comfortable temperatures for spending hours outside.
The landscape bursts with reds, oranges, and yellows. If you love photography, this is honestly the best time for light and scenery.
Winter activities center around indoor attractions. Cold fronts sweep right across the flat land, which makes for some pretty harsh conditions.
Ice storms sometimes make travel dangerous. Visitors really should bring proper winter gear and keep a close watch on road conditions.