Rain, maybe a little snow, headed for Kansas City: What to know about forecast
After a stretch of warm weather to kick off the New Year, colder temperatures have settled into Kansas City, and forecasters say there’s a chance for another round of rain — or even a little snow — as the metro heads into the weekend.
This has been the eighth-warmest start to the year in Kansas City since 1889. For the first eight days of January, the average high temperature was 51.6 degrees, well above the normal of 38.5 degrees. The warmest start was 61.8 degrees in 1939.
The near-70-degree weather Kansas City saw on Wednesday will be a memory as cooler air brings temperatures closer to seasonal averages. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-40s on Friday, which is still above the average of 38 degrees that is typical for this time of year.
The weather should also remain dry for most of the day under mostly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.
Another round of precipitation is expected to move into the area Friday night. Precipitation chances are expected to range from 50% to 70%. This is expected to begin as rain in eastern Kansas and western Missouri, according to the weather service.
“As temperatures cool through the evening and overnight hours, a transition to snow will occur,” the weather service said.
Rain is expected to move into the Kansas City area and areas west of U.S. 65 in central Missouri between 6 and 9 p.m., and between 8 and 11 p.m. for areas farther east.
Forecast models have trended warmer, suggesting a transition from rain to a rain/snow mix rather than accumulating snow, the weather service said. Little to no snow accumulation is expected.
The weather service said areas northwest of a line from Kansas City to Kirksville have the highest probabilities of accumulating snow. Even then, the chance for at least a half-inch of snow is low, ranging from 10% to 20%. Freezing rain is not expected.
“However, as temperatures fall below freezing late tonight, some slick spots on bridges, overpasses, and untreated surfaces may develop,” the weather service said. Precipitation should end by daybreak on Saturday.
Temperatures will be colder this weekend, with a high of around 43 degrees on Saturday and about 38 degrees on Sunday. The remainder of the forecast looks mainly dry.
This story was originally published January 9, 2026 at 7:45 AM.
