Warmest part of day is behind us, Kansas City. Ready for major temperature drop?
Most Kansas Citians likely slept through the warmest part of the day on Wednesday as colder air moved into the area overnight, according to the National Weather Service.
“Near 50s degrees again today, although the only way you would have experienced it is being outside at midnight,” the weather service said in its forecast discussion. “Temperatures continue to fall as cold air from the north continues to envelop the region.”
The temperature at Kansas City International Airport (MCI), the official weather station for the metro area, reached 46 degrees shortly before midnight. By about 6 a.m., it was around 38 degrees.
“Much of the rest of the day will be in the upper 30s to near 40 degrees,” the weather service said.
The weather service said those leaving home in the morning might not think temperatures are all that bad, but the cold air will continue to push into the area. Winds are expected to pick up, with gusts of 25 to 35 mph.
“While conditions will be blustery, wind chills are expected to remain in the upper 20s through the day,” the weather service said.
A second push of cold air is expected in the afternoon and evening, sending temperatures cascading downward overnight to around 15 degrees, the weather service said.
Temperatures will rebound on Thursday to around 43 degrees. Kansas City’s temperatures typically average around 38 degrees this time of year.
On Saturday, the weather service noted that the metro has entered what historically is the coldest part of the year. Temperatures from Jan. 10 to 23 typically range from a high of 38 degrees to a low of 19 degrees.
There is a chance for light snow early Friday, mainly in northeast Missouri. On Saturday, some flurries might occur. There’s still some uncertainty in the forecast, so don’t expect much — at most, just a dusting of snow is possible, and some places may get no snow at all.
The forecast indicates that another blast of Arctic air, accompanied by blustery winds, will pass through the area.
Temperatures are forecast to be in the low 40s on Friday, the upper 20s on Saturday and around freezing on Sunday. For Martin Luther King Jr. Day, expect sunny weather with temperatures around 34 degrees.
This story was originally published January 14, 2026 at 7:38 AM.
