2016 Weather Year-in-Review

2016 Weather Year-in-Review

The below information highlights some of the more memorable weather and climate events from across Wichita's National Weather Service area of responsibility, which includes portions of North-Central, Central, South-Central and Southeast Kansas. The events are ranked chronologically, and not necessarily by importance, rank or significance. Click on each event for further details.

Winter:

March 27th Easter Snow

Severe Thunderstorms & Flooding:

Annual Summaries:

Climate Highlights - authored by Eric Schminke, General Meteorologist

Severe Weather & Flooding - authored by Chance Hayes, Warning Coordination Meteorologist

Record Warmth, Record Wet:

The year 2016 proved warm and at times quite wet across Kansas. Most sites across the state reported top-10 warmest years since records began in the late 1800s. Some of the highest rainfall amounts occurred in and around the Wichita Area, with Wichita experiencing it's 2nd wettest year since records began in 1888.

2016 Temperature Departure from Normal	2016 Precipitation	2016 Precipitation Departure from Normal

Average annual temperatures across Kansas were 2-3 degrees warmer than normal, with pockets of 3-5 degrees warmer than normal. Most sites across the state reported top-10 warmest years since records began. Click image to enlarge.	Annual precipitation amounts across the eastern half of Kansas were 30-40 inches, with a decent chunk of East and Southeast Kansas greater than 40 inches. Click image to enlarge.	Annual precipitation departures from normal across Kansas. With the exception of extreme Southeast Kansas, much of the state was near to above normal for the year, with pockets of well above normal precipitation around the Wichita area, and also across portions of North-Central Kansas. Click image to enlarge.

Top-10 precipitation departures from normal across Wichita's National Weather Service area of responsibility (Central, South-Central, Southeast Kansas). The greatest amounts were generally in and around the Wichita Area. Click image to enlarge.


Top-10 wettest and warmest years for Wichita since records began in 1888. The city experienced its 2nd wettest and 2nd warmest year on record in 2016. Click image to enlarge.	Top-10 warmest years for Salina, Chanute and Russell. Click image to enlarge.