‘Not sure if we should celebrate or cry’: KC shatters records with bone-chilling cold
An arctic blast continues to shatter records in Kansas City as dangerous, bone-chilling cold sent temperatures plunging below zero.
The temperature tumbled to -9 degrees shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday at Kansas City International Airport. A west to northwest wind of about 8 mph sent wind chills plunging to -24 degrees.
The frigid weather has broken several daily records this week, including on Wednesday when temperatures reached only 9 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The previous record for the coldest high temperature for Feb. 19 was 11 degrees, set in 1929.
With temperatures plummeting to -4 degrees shortly before midnight, another record fell. The previous lowest temperature for Feb. 19 was -3 degrees, set in 1936.
And with Thursday already starting below zero, a new record low temperature has been set for Feb. 20. The previous lowest temperature was 2 degrees, set in 1918.
“Not sure if we celebrate, or cry for our gas and electric bills,” the weather service said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
That prompted this exchange with the National Weather Service in Hastings, Nebraska: “Not to record shame or anything . . . but -4 is kinda weak. -17 here. It’s the ultimate flex, amirite?”
“There’s a reason we have a metro of 2.4 million . . . and Hastings area doesn’t,” the weather service in Kansas City said.
“WELL . . . that’s a valid point. I’ve got nothing,” the weather service in Hastings responded.
Skies will be sunny on Thursday, but temperatures will still be brutally cold. The metro is expecting the temperature to climb into the low teens. The record coldest high temperature is 12 degrees, set in 1918.
Kansas City temperatures typically reach 45 degrees during the day and fall to 25 degrees overnight this time of year.
Warmer weather in Kansas City’s forecast
It will be another cold night, with temperatures plunging to zero degrees. Temperatures will begin to rebound Friday, but record cold is still possible through Saturday.
Temperatures are expected to climb to the low 20s on Friday before dipping to 12 degrees overnight.
“Enough about the cold,” the weather service said in its forecast discussion. “Warming trend finally arrives by later Friday afternoon and evening.”
The metro will climb above freezing on Saturday, the first time since Valentine’s Day weekend, when temperatures hit around 37 degrees.
Temperatures are expected to be near 50 degrees on Sunday and near 60 degrees on Monday and Tuesday.
“Any lingering snow pack ‘may’ temper high end temperature potential,” the weather service said. “This would most likely be experienced Sunday before much of the local snow melts off.”
Temperatures will step back a few degrees mid- to late next week, but there will not be another polar plunge. Temperatures are only expected to retreat to what is typical for this time of year.
This story was originally published February 20, 2025 at 7:19 AM.
