Weather and climate in Kansas City (Missouri)

The climate of Kansas City is continental, with cold winters and hot summers, with quite frequent thunderstorms.
The city is located in the Midwest of the United States, near the geographic center of the country, in the western part of the state of Missouri, at an altitude of 270 meters (885 feet). The Missouri River, which receives the waters of the Kansas River in the center of the city, marks the border with the state of Kansas, where the western part of the city is located.
The climate is characterized by clashes of air masses of different origins, which give rise to sudden changes in temperature, thunderstorms (in spring and summer), sometimes accompanied by hail, and snow and frosts in winter.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -0.6 °C (31 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 27.2 °C (81 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 970 millimeters (38.1 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 25 mm (1 in) in the driest month (January) to 135 mm (5.3 in) in the wettest (June). Here is the average precipitation.

The winter, from late November to early March, is cold, with an average temperature in January close to freezing. There are periods when it may be cold at night, but during the day the temperature gets quite mild, reaching or exceeding 15 °C (59 °F). Sometimes it can reach 20 °C (68 °F) even in the middle of winter.
However, the city is exposed to intense cold spells, as is typical of the Midwest. On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature typically drops to around -19 °C (-2 °F). At the international airport, the cold record is -30.5 °C (-23 °F), set in December 1989.
On average, 28 cm (11 in) of snow fall per year. Therefore, snowfalls are not as abundant as in the Great Lakes region or on the east coast of the United States.

The summer, from June to August, is hot and sunny, although thunderstorms can break out in the afternoon.
Kansas City is a particularly hot city, especially in the city center due to the heat island. There are hot and muggy periods, sometimes of long duration, which can also occur in early September.
Generally, the temperature reaches 37/38 °C (98/100 °F) on the hottest days of the year, although the record in recent times is 42.2 °C (108 °F), recorded at the end of June 1980. In the city center, the temperature reached 44.5 °C (112 °F) in July 1954 and 43 °C (109.5 °F) in August 2011, while in July 2012, the average maximum temperature was of 37.9 °C (100.2 °F).

Spring and autumn, from mid-March to May and from September to mid-November, are contrasted seasons, with fairly frequent rains and sudden changes in temperature. Spring is rainier and more unstable than autumn. However, there are also stable and pleasant periods.
Kansas City is located in Tornado Alley. Tornadoes are are more likely in spring, but sometimes can also occur in autumn.



On average, there are around 2,810 sunshine hours per year. Therefore, the city is very sunny. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Occasionally, in spring, but especially in summer, the metropolitan area of Kansas City can be affected by floods of the Kansas and Missouri rivers. After the flood of July 1951, the embankments were raised, so that the city was saved from the flood of the summer of 1993, which affected large areas of the Midwest.

Best Time

To visit Kansas City you can choose spring and autumn, and in particular the periods from mid-April to mid-May and from mid-September to mid-October. Autumn is probably the best season, being drier and with less temperature changes. But in spring the days are longer.

Kansas City - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.5 °C (31 °F), with a minimum of -5.4 °C (22.2 °F) and a maximum of 4.4 °C (39.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -16.5 °C (2.5 °F). However, it dropped to -23 °C (-9.4 °F) in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17.5 °C (64 °F). However, it reached 24.4 °C (75.9 °F) in January 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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February is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.1 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -3.1 °C (26.4 °F) and a maximum of 7.3 °C (45.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -13 °C (8.5 °F). However, it dropped to -22.3 °C (-8.1 °F) in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (69 °F). However, it reached 27.2 °C (81 °F) in February 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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March is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 8 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 2.3 °C (36.2 °F) and a maximum of 13.7 °C (56.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8 °C (17.5 °F). However, it dropped to -19.4 °C (-2.9 °F) in March 2014.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 31.1 °C (88 °F) in March 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (10 mph).

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April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.6 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 7.9 °C (46.3 °F) and a maximum of 19.3 °C (66.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -7 °C (19.4 °F) in April 2007.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (84.5 °F). However, it reached 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in April 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.3 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 14 °C (57.2 °F) and a maximum of 24.6 °C (76.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (42.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.6 °C (33.1 °F) in May 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (89.5 °F). However, it reached 35.6 °C (96.1 °F) in May 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 130 mm (5.1 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 24.7 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 19.6 °C (67.2 °F) and a maximum of 29.9 °C (85.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it dropped to 8.3 °C (46.9 °F) in June 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95 °F). However, it reached 41.1 °C (106 °F) in June 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 135 mm (5.3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 27.2 °C (81 °F), with a minimum of 22.2 °C (71.9 °F) and a maximum of 32.3 °C (90.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16.5 °C (62 °F). However, it dropped to 13.9 °C (57 °F) in July 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99.5 °F). However, it reached 41.7 °C (107.1 °F) in July 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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August is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 26.2 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 21.1 °C (69.9 °F) and a maximum of 31.4 °C (88.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15.5 °C (59.5 °F). However, it dropped to 11.7 °C (53.1 °F) in August 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99.5 °F). However, it reached 42.8 °C (109 °F) in August 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.5 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 16.1 °C (61 °F) and a maximum of 26.9 °C (80.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 2.7 °C (36.9 °F) in September 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 41.1 °C (106 °F) in September 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.7 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 9.3 °C (48.7 °F) and a maximum of 20.1 °C (68.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5 °C (23 °F) in October 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (86.5 °F). However, it reached 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in October 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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November is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.4 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 2.4 °C (36.3 °F) and a maximum of 12.5 °C (54.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6.5 °C (20 °F). However, it dropped to -14.3 °C (6.3 °F) in November 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in November 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).

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December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 1.8 °C (35 °F), with a minimum of -2.9 °C (26.7 °F) and a maximum of 6.6 °C (43.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -12.5 °C (9 °F). However, it dropped to -20.6 °C (-5.1 °F) in December 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66 °F). However, it reached 23.3 °C (73.9 °F) in December 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).