Climate and Weather of Kansas

Climate and Weather of Kansas

"Climate is what you expect; weather is what you get." (Anonymous)

Kansas has a Continental climate without the benefit of winds passing over large bodies of water. Its central location in the continent means it can be reached by air masses from the Southwest, the Northwest and the Gulf of Mexico. This mixing of differing temperatures and humidities can lead to some rather turbulent conditions. Weather buffs enjoy Kansas because the continental characteristics are accentuated here. Temperature extremes and rapid changes from hot to cold or from cold to hot occur frequently.
Horizontal blizzards from the northwest and steady, blast-furnace dry south winds are seasonal characteristics. Very high humidities and near desert conditions exist in Kansas. Drought conditions can be punctuated with severe thunderstorms with heavy rains and violent winds. No discussion of Kansas climate and weather would be complete without mention of the annual confluence of conditions that lead to the development of tornadoes every year, particularly in May and June. The violent updrafting storms can also produce impressive hail.


Photos courtesy of Kansas State University	Research and Extension Weather Images

Climate Differences: There is a slight difference in Kansas from north to south, particularly with winter conditions being a bit more harsh in the north. The big climatic difference in the state occurs from east to west. One of the key objectives of the trip is to observe changing conditions with respect to the differing climate conditions. Generally higher precipitation and humidity levels prevail in the East, with conditions drying out steadily as you move to Western Kansas. The table below has historical average annual precipitation, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, and maximum minus minimum temperature for stations in counties all on the approximate lattitude of I-70 as it runs through the state.
The counties will be posted from west to east: Logan, Gove, Ellis, Saline, Geary, Shawnee, and Douglas. Use the county map to see the locations.

County Map Courtesy of KGS

County	Logan (LG)	Gove (GO)	Ellis (EL)	Saline (SA)	Geary (GE)	Shawnee (SN)	Douglas (DG)
Ann. Ppt. (in.)	18.23	23.5	22.76	29.4	32.5	34.44	38.45
Ann. Max temp.	65.9	65.7	67.3	66.8	68.5	65.5	66.8
Ann. Min temp.	38.1	38.8	40.1	43.8	43.9	43.2	45.8
Max. - Min.	27.8	26.9	27.2	23.0	24.6	22.3	21.0

Data courtesy of High Plains Regional Climate Center ; University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Note how the western half of the state, from Logan to Ellis counties gets much less precipitation than the eastern half, from Saline County over. The western half also has greater range between the average maximum and average minimum temperatures. The humid conditions of the eastern half of the state buffer the changes in maximum and minimum temperatures. Western and Central Kansas also tend to have windier conditions. Summer brings persistent south winds, making Western and Central Kansas prime locations for wind energy. The name of the state comes from the Kanza natives. It means 'People of the Southwind'.


Western Kansas by Tom Geyer	Central Kansas by Tom Geyer	Eastern Kansas KGS

Tornadoes: These violent rotating storms usually occur in May and June in Kansas. The warm, humid mass of air (moisture tongue) from the Gulf of Mexico is usually reaching Kansas at this time. Much cooler masses of continental polar air are still able to come into the area. As a result there is often a high level jet stream over Kansas during May and June. There are also mid-level masses of dry air from the desert Southwest and Rockies sitting on top of the moist air. These conditions create the scenario for the typical tornado formation. First, low level moist air is forced to rise by an advancing cold front or by convective heating. The rising air forms cumulus clouds that hit the cap of the more dense, dry, mid-level air. Second, the forces that cause the moist air to rise continue to build until the clouds break through the mid-level dry air. The clouds billow up explosively into cumulonimbus. This is very exciting to watch.


Near Abilene KS ; Photo by Gene Rhoden	Near Plainville KS ; Photo by Gene Rhoden

As the tops of the clouds hit the jet, they are cleared away. This promotes continued updrafts that can take on a rotation. These conditions produce tornadoes.


Photo by Tornado Tom	Haven, KS ; Photo by Matt Dennis

Near El Dorado, KS ; Photo by Tim Marshall	Classic Hook Echo Doppler near Wichita, KS

Nocturnal Thunderstorms: An interesting weather feature of the western third of Kansas is the nocturnal thunderstorm. Most thunderstorms happen in the late afternoon after a day of heating and convective lift. In Western Kansas, as often as not, thunderstorms happen in the dead of night. Cool air rolling down off the Rockies usually arrives late at night. If there is some moist air to be pushed up, you can have some ear-splitting lightning. These storms will sit you straight up in bed when they come through. Western Kansas and Eastern Colorado have more nocturnal thunderstorms than most other places.

Photo Courtesy of the National Weather Service

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