Wichita, Kansas Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Wichita weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 3Overcast19%—80°67°—
- ThursdayJun 4Thunderstorm29%0.01″82°65°+2°
- FridayJun 5Overcast17%—93°69°+11°
- SaturdayJun 6Light Drizzle47%—88°72°-5°
- SundayJun 7Showers54%—88°69°0°
- MondayJun 8Thunderstorm34%—98°73°+10°
- TuesdayJun 9Clear26%—101°77°+3°
Ozone at AQI 35. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~100%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 35. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~100%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.
- Present
- AQI 35
- UV peak
- 0.0 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- overcast
- Projected peak
- AQI 4
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 4.8 µg/m³, PM10 at 5.1 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.94
- Wind
- light
- Recent rain
- 0h in last 6h
- Pattern
- background
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 4:52 AM
- Moonset
- 2:39 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
Wichita at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 6°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 2 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
SPC Convective Outlook
Storm Prediction Center — Wichita
SPC has placed Wichita in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms tomorrow.
- TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
- TOMORROWMRGLMarginal Risk
- DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.
Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July brings Wichita's peak heat with temperatures averaging 82°F, while January delivers the year's coldest conditions at 33°F. May produces the heaviest rainfall at 5.2 inches, contrasting sharply with January's meager 0.8 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33° | 0.8″ | 2 |
| February | 38° | 1.2″ | 3 |
| March | 47° | 2.3″ | 4 |
| April | 57° | 3.1″ | 5 |
| May | 67° | 5.2″ | 7 |
| June | 77° | 4.9″ | 7 |
| July | 82° | 4.0″ | 6 |
| August | 80° | 4.3″ | 5 |
| September | 72° | 3.0″ | 4 |
| October | 59° | 2.9″ | 4 |
| November | 46° | 1.4″ | 3 |
| December | 36° | 1.2″ | 2 |
Regional context
Wichita falls within the humid subtropical climate region, sharing temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with other cities in this climate zone.
Similar climates: Overland Park, KS, Kansas City, KS, Topeka, KS, Olathe, KS, Lawrence, KS.
Naturalist notes
Red-winged blackbirds return to Wichita's wetlands and marshy areas in late February, with males arriving first to establish territories before females appear in early March.
Eastern redbud trees begin flowering in mid-March, their purple-pink blossoms appearing before the leaves emerge along creek beds and woodland edges throughout the area.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Wichita?
- Mid-April typically marks Wichita's last spring frost, while the first fall frost usually arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Wichita?
- May stands as the wettest month, delivering about 5.2 inches of rain on average, contributing to the city's annual total of roughly 34 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Wichita?
- July typically registers as the warmest month, with temperatures averaging about 82°F.
- What is the coldest month in Wichita?
- January typically ranks as the coldest month, with temperatures averaging about 33°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Wichita?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-April, while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Wichita get?
- Wichita experiences about 52 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Wichita?
- Wichita's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; the USDA's online lookup tool using the city ZIP code provides the current zone designation.
Climate
Wichita, Kansas experiences a humid subtropical climate zone. Temperatures hover near 33°F in January and average 82°F in July, creating a 48°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation totals about 34 inches, distributed across roughly 52 rainy days throughout the year.
Geography shapes Wichita's weather patterns through its latitude of 37.7°N, proximity to large water bodies, and elevation. These factors determine what plants thrive, when frost threatens, and the daily weather patterns residents experience.