Wichita, Kansas

Weather Forecast Office

2021 Climate Summary and Highlights

2021 Annual Climate Summary and Highlights

Below is a 2021 climate summary from our primary climate sites. Overall, it was a warmer year than normal, with a mix of above
and below normal precipitation.

WICHITA EISENHOWER AIRPORT

The average annual temperature of 58.3 degrees was 0.6 degrees warmer than normal. It tied for 20th warmest year since records
began in 1889, and it was the warmest since 2017. The warmest daily temperature was 103 degrees on August 12th, and the
coldest was 17 degrees below zero on February 16th. Precipitation-wise, 30.56 inches was measured, which was 3.75 inches drier than normal. In the snowfall department, 12.9 inches fell, which was 0.2 inches above normal. It was the snowiest year since 2014.

SALINA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

The average annual temperature of 57.4 degrees was 1.6 degrees warmer than normal. It tied for 23rd warmest year since records
began in 1900, and it was the warmest since 2017. The warmest daily temperature was 106 degrees on June 17th and 18th, and the coldest was 14 degrees below zero on February 16th. Precipitation-wise, 26.11 inches was measured, which was 3.58 inches drier than normal. It was the driest year since 2017.

CHANUTE MARTIN-JOHNSON AIRPORT

The average annual temperature of 59.5 degrees was 1.5 degrees warmer than normal. It was the 10th warmest year since records began in 1894, and it was the warmest since 2016. The warmest daily temperature was 100 degrees on June 17th, and the coldest was 22 degrees below zero on February 16th. Precipitation-wise, 50.17 inches was measured, which was a whopping 9.48 inches wetter than normal. It was the wettest year since 2019.

RUSSELL MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

The average annual temperature of 56.0 degrees was 1.2 degrees warmer than normal. It tied for the 11th warmest year since records began in 1950, and it was the warmest since 2017. The warmest daily temperature was 105 degrees on August 12th, and
the coldest was 18 degrees below zero on February 15th. Precipitation-wise, 25.55 inches was measured, which was 0.71 inches wetter than normal.

2021 Annual Climate Summary

Here's a summary of 2021 temperature and precipitation departures from normal for our long-term climate sites.

Temperatures
Precipitation
Miscellaneous

2021 Temperatures

Annual Average Temperatures	Annual Temperature Departure from Normal

Kansas 2021 average temperatures (the average of each daily high and low temperature).	Kansas 2021 average temperature departures from normal. While there was some variability, overall temperatures averaged warmer than normal in 2021.

2021 Warmest Temperatures	2021 Coldest Temperatures

The warmest temperatures recorded in 2021 across Kansas were in the 90s and 100s.	The coldest temperatures recorded in 2021 across Kansas were in the teens and 20s below zero.

2021 Temperature Rankings

Kansas 2021 temperature rankings by climate division. The number 1 denotes the warmest year on record (since 1893), 130 denotes the coolest. Most divisions averaged warmer than normal in 2021.

2021 Precipitation

2021 Precipitation	2021 Precipitation Departure from Normal

Kansas 2021 precipitation (liquid-equivalent). Annual precipitation ranged from around 15 inches across portions of western Kansas, to around 60 inches across portions of eastern Kansas.	Kansas 2021 precipitation departure from normal. There was a mix of above and below normal precipitation across the state. Precipitation deficits were greatest across portions of northwest, northeast, and southern Kansas, while precipitation surplus was greatest across far eastern Kansas.

2021 Snowfall	2021 Snowfall Departure from Normal

2021 snowfall across Kansas ranged from 20 to 30 inches across portions of northern and northwest Kansas, to less than a few inches across portions of southwest Kansas.	Snowfall was mostly below normal across Kansas in 2021, especially across central and western portions of the state.

2021 Precipitation Rankings

Kansas 2021 precipitation rankings by climate division. The number 1 denotes the wettest year on record (since 1893), 130 denotes the driest. East-central Kansas ranked as the 24th wettest year since 1893.

2021 Miscellaneous Climate and Headline Information

2021 Tornado Warnings	2021 Tornado Warnings Departure from Normal

The number of 2021 tornado warnings per county across Kansas.	2021 tornado warnings departure from normal by NWS office. Large portions of the country, especially Mid-America, experienced fewer tornado-producing thunderstorms than normal in 2021.

2021 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings	2021 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Departure from Normal

The number of 2021 severe thunderstorm warnings per county across Kansas.	2021 severe thunderstorm warnings departure from normal by NWS office. With the exception of the northeast and the southwest, large portions of the country experienced fewer severe thunderstorms than normal in 2021.

2021 Flash Flood Warnings	2021 Flash Flood Warnings Departure from Normal

The number of 2021 flash flood warnings per county across Kansas.	2021 flash flood warnings departure from normal by NWS office.

2021 High Wind Warnings	2021 High Wind Warnings Departure from Normal

The number of 2021 high wind warnings per county across Kansas, for very high winds apart from thunderstorms.	2021 high wind warnings departure from normal by NWS office.

2021 Red Flag Warnings	2021 Red Flag Warnings Departure from Normal

The number of 2021 red flag warnings per county across Kansas, for extreme grassland fire danger.	2021 red flag warnings departure from normal by NWS office. Central, north-central, and northwest portions of the country experienced higher than normal fire danger in 2021.

2021 Winter Storm Warnings	2021 Winter Storm Warnings + Winter Weather Advisories Departure from Normal

The number of 2021 winter storm warnings per county across Kansas, for hazardous winter weather.	2021 winter storm warnings + winter weather advisories departure from normal by NWS office.

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