Weather in Kansas City

Planning your day in Kansas City? Check out the latest weather data, forecasts, and visual charts in this section.

Kansas City is characterized by a continental climate with four distinct seasons. This means that significant temperature fluctuations occur throughout the year. Travellers should expect both hot summer months and quite cold winters, while spring and autumn usually delight with more moderate and comfortable weather conditions.

Summer in Kansas City, especially in July and August, is quite hot: the average temperature stays above 25°C, and maximum values often exceed 30°C. Winter, on the contrary, is cold, particularly in January, when the average temperature drops below freezing, and night frosts are a common occurrence. Spring brings gradual warming, while autumn offers pleasant coolness after the summer heat.

Regarding precipitation, it is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year, although May stands out as the wettest month with the highest number of rainy days (about 15 days) and maximum precipitation (totalling 6 mm). Overall, the amount of precipitation is very low, without a pronounced rainy season. This allows for planning a trip to Kansas City at any time of the year, depending on your temperature preferences.

Kansas City experiences a significant annual temperature range, typical of a continental climate. The hottest month is usually July, when the average temperature reaches 26.6°C, and daily highs often rise above 31°C. This is followed by August and June with average temperatures of around 25.6°C and 25.2°C respectively. The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of about -0.2°C and night frosts dropping the thermometer to -4.5°C. February is also quite cold, with an average temperature of 1.5°C and minimum values around -3.8°C.

The summer months in Kansas City – June, July, and August – are characterized by hot weather. Daytime temperatures consistently stay at a high level, often exceeding the 30°C mark (highs reach 30.2°C - 31.3°C). Nights also remain warm, with minimum temperatures rarely dropping below 20°C (averaging 20.2°C - 21.9°C). This time is ideal for those who love sunny and sultry weather, however, one should be prepared for high temperatures, especially at midday.

Winter in Kansas City brings noticeable cooling. In December, January, and February, average daytime temperatures range from -0.2°C to 8.1°C, and night temperatures regularly drop below freezing, especially in January (down to -4.5°C) and February (down to -3.8°C). Throughout the year, Kansas City sees palpable daily temperature fluctuations: the difference between daily highs and nightly lows is often around 9-11°C. This means that even on warm days, evenings can be significantly cooler, which is worth considering when planning your wardrobe.

Precipitation in Kansas City is not characterized by high intensity throughout the year, though certain seasonal fluctuations are observed. The peak moisture occurs in May, when the maximum amount of precipitation for the city falls – about 6 mm, and the highest number of days with precipitation is recorded, reaching 15. Thus, late spring is the "wettest" period of the year, although even at this time the total amount of precipitation remains moderate.

The driest month is December, when only 1 mm of precipitation and approximately 5 days with precipitation are recorded. In other months, the amount of rainfall usually fluctuates between 2-3 mm, and the number of days with it varies from 7 to 12. For example, in March there are about 12 days with precipitation, and in the summer months (June, July, August) – approximately 10 days each. Although there is no pronounced dry season, December demonstrates the lowest probability of precipitation.

The type of precipitation in Kansas City directly depends on the time of year and temperature. In winter, especially in January (average temperature -0.2°C, minimum -4.5°C) and February (average 1.5°C, minimum -3.8°C), there is a high probability of snowfall. In December, with minimum temperatures dropping below freezing, snow is also possible. Transitional months, such as March and November, can bring both rain and wet snow, especially in early spring and late autumn respectively. During the warm season, from late spring and throughout the summer to early autumn, precipitation falls predominantly as rain.

When packing your suitcase for a trip to Kansas City, it is important to consider significant seasonal weather fluctuations. In winter (December-February), you will need warm clothes: a winter jacket or coat, a hat, gloves, and a scarf, as average temperatures hover around freezing, and night temperatures can drop to -4.5°C. Don't forget warm, possibly waterproof footwear, as snow is possible, although the total amount of precipitation is small (1-2 mm). In summer (June-August), the weather is hot, with average temperatures above 25°C and highs reaching 30-31°C. Therefore, pack light, breathable clothing, sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. The principle of layering will be relevant year-round due to daily temperature changes.

Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) in Kansas City are transitional seasons. In spring, the temperature gradually rises: from a cool March (average 8.3°C) to a warm May (average 19.4°C). May is also the wettest month (6 mm of precipitation, 15 rainy days), so a light waterproof jacket or umbrella will be very handy. In autumn, the weather gradually cools down, but September is still quite warm (average 22.7°C). During these seasons, layered clothing is ideal: T-shirts, jumpers, and light jackets that can be taken off or put on depending on the weather. Regardless of the time of year, comfortable walking shoes are a must-have, as there are many interesting places for walking in the city.

Given that precipitation in Kansas City is distributed throughout the year, albeit in small quantities (on average 2-3 mm per month, except for May), having a compact umbrella or a light raincoat in your luggage will not be amiss, especially if you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors. Windy weather can also be characteristic of the region, so a windbreaker or wind-protective clothing may be useful, especially in the off-season and winter.