Wichita, KS – On this date in 2021, Kansas was locked in one of the most historic Arctic outbreaks seen across the Plains in decades, with prolonged subfreezing temperatures and dangerous wind chills gripping the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Wichita, the cold wave began February 6, 2021, and lasted through February 18. During that stretch, Wichita recorded 12 consecutive days where high temperatures failed to rise above 32 degrees. The city also experienced 13 straight days with at least one inch of snow on the ground.
Other Kansas communities saw similar extremes. Salina logged 12 consecutive days below freezing, while Chanute recorded 13. On February 16, 2021, Wichita set a record low temperature of -17 degrees. Russell fell to -15, and Chanute plunged to -22 degrees.
The Arctic air mass was the most significant and widespread across the Plains since 1983, forecasters said. Wind chill values around 30 degrees below zero were common across much of Kansas, creating dangerous conditions. The cold extended far beyond the Midwest, with snow observed along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Climatologists note that while cold snaps are typical in winter, the duration and intensity of the February 2021 outbreak made it especially rare in the modern era.
Do you remember where you were during the February 2021 deep freeze? How did it impact your home or travel plans?
