Bitter cold returns to Kansas City this weekend: Just how low will temps go?
Brace yourself, Kansas City. Even though warmer weather will close out the workweek, some of the coldest temperatures of the season are on the way for the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
After a cold start Thursday, down to around 17 degrees at Kansas City International Airport during the morning rush hour, temperatures are expected to rebound into the mid-40s by the afternoon. That will be slightly above the average of 38 degrees for this time of year.
Otherwise, quiet weather is expected, the weather service said.
Gusty winds will return on Friday as a cold front moves through the area, with gusts of 30 to 40 mph possible. There is also a chance for some snow flurries early Friday, with the best chances across far northeast and central Missouri, according to the weather service. Chances for sprinkles and flurries will continue after sunrise, but no accumulation is expected.
“Another plunge of colder temperatures is expected this weekend,” the weather service said.
This weather system will have a bit of a one-two punch, especially with temperatures, similar to the system last week, the weather service said.
The warmest part of Friday will happen around midnight, with the potential for temperatures to rebound slightly to around 40 degrees in the afternoon. A second pulse of Arctic air will move in on Friday night, pushing temperatures lower.
Temperatures are expected to be capped in the low 20s on Saturday.
“The good news is, this cold high pressure system pumps the brakes on the gusty winds which will keep it from being dangerously cold; just majorly unpleasant,” the weather service said.
Still, the coldest temperatures so far this winter are possible Sunday morning, with temperatures bottoming out in the single digits across the region, the weather service said. Wind chills will range from the single digits below zero to 15 below zero. Temperatures will rebound to near normal by the afternoon.
For Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it will be sunny, but cold, as temperatures will climb only into the upper 20s.
The long-range forecast notes that temperatures will swing up and down as the area stays between colder northern air and warmer southern air. There also doesn’t appear to be any big chances for significant rain or snow in the coming days.
This story was originally published January 15, 2026 at 8:31 AM.
