Kansas City starts Thursday under a gray, soggy sky, with showers likely before 9 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms through the afternoon. The high is forecast near 72 degrees, with west-northwest winds building in the afternoon and gusts up to 26 mph. The latest National Weather Service forecast puts the chance of showers into the afternoon.
Showers and a few thunderstorms remain possible Thursday. The flood watch previously noted is no longer listed for the Kansas City metro; the current Freeze Watch applies to counties north of the core metro, not Jackson, Clay or Platte counties. The NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill alert page lists the current hazard, and the watch notice identifies the counties covered.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up Behind The Front
Showers and a few thunderstorms are most likely from Thursday morning into early afternoon, followed by a chance of scattered showers later in the day. Winds will shift from the southeast to west-northwest, with gusts up to 26 mph Thursday and up to 31 mph Friday. The latest NWS point forecast gives the updated rain timing and wind forecast.
The change is a substantial turn from Wednesday's forecast update, which focused on the storm system moving into the region. Commuters and anyone with outdoor plans should expect wet roads early, stronger crosswinds later and a much cooler evening.
Friday Brings A Blustery Chill
Friday will be mostly cloudy and noticeably colder, with a high near 53 degrees and north-northwest winds of 13 to 18 mph. Friday night’s low is expected to be around 37 degrees. The NWS forecast for Kansas City has the updated temperatures and wind speeds.
Friday’s forecast high of 53 degrees is 15 degrees below Kansas City’s Oct. 16 normal high of 68, a sharp cold snap for mid-October. The city’s October normals show the usual high falling gradually through the month, putting Thursday’s forecast high of 72 near the Oct. 15 normal of 69. Kansas City’s NWS climate normals provide the seasonal benchmark.
Frost Arrives Before The Weekend Rebound
Patchy frost is possible early Saturday, followed by sunny skies and a high near 58 degrees. The weekend then improves, with Sunday reaching about 66 degrees before highs climb to 71 Monday, 75 Tuesday and 77 Wednesday under mostly sunny to sunny skies. The latest NWS forecast gives the updated weekend and early-week outlook.
Saturday’s possible frost is forecast well ahead of Kansas City’s average first fall freeze date of Oct. 28, though that average is a climate benchmark, not a guarantee for any particular neighborhood or garden. The NWS warns that freeze conditions can harm crops and other sensitive vegetation; its current Freeze Watch covers counties north of the core metro, not Jackson, Clay or Platte counties. NWS freeze-date records and the current watch’s county list show the distinction.
