If you’ve lived in the metro for more than a week, you know the drill. You check the app in the morning, see a high of 40°F, and by noon you’re wondering why the wind is trying to peel the skin off your face. That is just January in Kansas City.
Right now, we are staring down a five-day stretch that looks like a classic Missouri "yo-yo" session. One day you're scraping frost off the windshield in near-zero wind chills, and a few days later, you might actually consider leaving the heavy parka in the closet.
Honestly, the 5-day weather forecast for kansas city missouri is less of a schedule and more of a suggestion. But if you’re trying to plan your week—whether that’s a trip to the River Market or just surviving the commute—here is exactly what is hitting the pavement from Saturday, January 17 through Wednesday.
The Deep Freeze: Saturday and Sunday
Saturday is starting off brutal. We are looking at a high of 17°F today, but that number is a total lie. With a northwest wind kicking at 15 mph, the real feel is hovering closer to 3°F.
It’s sunny, which is great for the soul but terrible for the hands.
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Tonight gets even tighter. The mercury is dropping to 10°F under cloudy skies. There is a tiny 10% chance of some light snow flurries, but don't go looking for your sled just yet. It’s mostly just "cold enough to hurt" weather.
Sunday, January 18, is where the "Missouri Compromise" starts to kick in. We jump from a frigid Saturday to a high of 40°F. That is a 23-degree swing in 24 hours.
You’ll see some sun, but the wind is going to be the main character tomorrow. It’s coming out of the west at 17 mph, so while it's "warmer," that breeze will still have a bite. We also have about a 20% chance of some daytime snow showers before it settles into a partly cloudy night with a low of 13°F.
A Quick Dip and the Mid-Week Thaw
Monday, January 19, reminds us that winter isn't done. We drop back down to a high of 23°F. It’ll be sunny, and thankfully the wind calms down to about 10 mph.
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If you have MLK Day plans outdoors, layer up. The low hits 11°F Monday night.
Then, the script flips again for Tuesday. This is the day you’ve been waiting for. We are looking at a high of 46°F on January 20. It’s going to be partly sunny with a southwest wind at 11 mph. It’s the kind of day where the ice on the side of the road finally turns to slush. Tuesday night stays "warm" by January standards, only dipping to 20°F.
Wednesday, January 21, keeps that momentum going. High of 44°F. Sunny skies.
There is a 15% chance of some snow showers, but with those temperatures, nothing is going to stick. It’s mostly just atmospheric noise. Expect a low of 20°F under clear skies with some periodic clouds.
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Why the 5-day weather forecast for kansas city missouri Changes So Fast
Kansas City sits in a weird geographical pocket. We don't have mountains to block the arctic air coming down from Canada, and we don't have oceans to regulate the temperature. We are basically a giant landing strip for whatever weather feels like showing up.
Local experts often point out that mid-January is historically our coldest window. Average highs are usually around 38°F to 41°F, so this upcoming week—hitting 46°F by Tuesday—is actually a bit of a gift.
But don't get too comfortable. Historically, January 6 is our coldest day of the year, and we are still in the thick of the "frigid" zone. The 10-degree lows we are seeing this weekend are much closer to the 10th percentile of our typical weather than the average.
Survival Tips for the Next 5 Days
- The Layering Rule: Don't trust the high. If the forecast says 40°F but it's 17 mph winds, you need a windbreaker over that sweater.
- Humidifiers are Mandatory: The humidity is dropping to 35% on Monday. Your skin and your wood floors will thank you if you keep some moisture in the air indoors.
- Watch the Slush: With the jump to 46°F on Tuesday, expect a lot of runoff. That runoff will freeze again Tuesday night when it hits 20°F, creating those nasty black ice patches on Wednesday morning.
Stay warm out there. The sun is staying out longer—about 1 minute and 27 seconds more every single day—so even if it's cold, at least the days are getting brighter.
Your Next Steps:
Check your tire pressure tonight; these massive temperature swings from 10°F to 46°F will cause your sensors to go haywire. Also, if you haven't dripped your faucets during the Saturday night freeze, now is the time to make sure your pipes are protected before that 10°F low hits.