Holiday heat wave: Christmas in Kansas City to feel like spring
If record-setting warmth was on your holiday wishlist, Kansas City is about to deliver, with temperatures expected to challenge all-time highs by Christmas Day.
That’s because a large area of high pressure will bring unusually warm weather to the central U.S., making it feel more like spring than December for several days in the metro, according to the National Weather Service.
The coolest day of this holiday week will be Monday. Temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 50s, well above the average of 41 degrees for this time of year in Kansas City, the weather service said.
Weather conditions will be favorable for fog to develop overnight, with the chance of visibility dropping to less than half a mile at or above 50% for much of the region.
“If you encounter fog driving into work tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, slow down, use low-beam headlights, and maintain extra distance from vehicles in front of you!” the weather service said.
Temperatures will continue to warm through Christmas Day, with temperatures around 60 degrees on Tuesday, near 70 on Christmas Eve, and 73 degrees on Christmas Day.
Overnight temperatures will also be quite warm, remaining in the upper 40s to mid-50s.
“A heat wave on Christmas sounds like a contradiction, but this year it seems rather probable,” the weather service said. “Forecast highs near or above 70 this time of year would be 30+ degrees above average. Record highs are absolutely in jeopardy!”
The record high temperature for Kansas City on Christmas Eve is 72 degrees, set in 2021. The highest minimum temperature for that date is 60 degrees, set in 1889.
For Christmas, the record high is 67 degrees, set in 1922, while the highest minimum is 53 degrees, set in 1936.
Temperatures will cool after the holiday, falling into the 60s on Friday and Saturday.
“By Sunday, the 70s of Christmas Day may be a long-distant memory, as highs return to reasonable . . . that is to say, seasonal,” the weather service said. It will be around 44 degrees on Sunday.
The weather pattern looks mostly warmer than average through the rest of the year, but conditions across the U.S. are expected to become more active next week as we head into the New Year, the weather service said.
