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Kansas weather is known for its wide range of conditions, and 2025 followed that pattern. K-State Assistant State Climatologist Matt Sittel says this year’s temperature, precipitation, and severe weather trends differ from long-term averages. With a few days left, 2025 is expected to finish above normal, marking the sixth straight above-average year since 2020.

Kansas is expected to finish the year slightly above normal precipitation, near 29 inches statewide. Southeast Kansas received over 40 inches, while western areas saw 16 to 20 inches. Despite a dry December, wetter and drier months balanced out, with severe weather also impacting conditions.

“On average, Kansas has 86 tornadoes a year. That’s based on the last 25 years of data compiled by the Storm Prediction Center,” said Sittel. “The preliminary count right now is 45 tornadoes for the year. I say it’s preliminary because the final number will be out, I think sometime in 2026. But right now it’s 45, so we averaged just a little over half of the tornadoes that we do in a year.”

The deadliest weather event occurred March 14 in northwest Kansas, when a dust storm reduced visibility on I-70 between Goodland and Colby. More than 70 vehicles were involved in a massive crash, resulting in eight fatalities, showing severe weather risks extend beyond tornadoes.