Dodge City, KS – An unusually warm stretch of weather is setting up across western Kansas this week, with temperatures running well above normal and potentially reaching record levels, according to the National Weather Service in Dodge City.
Forecasters say the most notable day will be Thursday, when Dodge City and Garden City each have a 60 to 70 percent chance of meeting or exceeding their daily record highs. Normal high temperatures for late December in the region are typically in the mid-40s, making the forecast warmth especially remarkable.
In Dodge City, highs are forecast to reach the low to mid-70s on multiple days this week, including Tuesday through Thursday. The record high for Thursday in Dodge City stands at 74 degrees, set in 1951, a value that could be matched or surpassed.
Garden City is also expected to see highs near 74 degrees Thursday, which would challenge the existing record of 74 degrees, set in 1971. Nearby Medicine Lodge could approach the upper 70s, though records there are slightly higher and may be harder to break.
The warm pattern will persist for several days, with highs remaining in the 60s and 70s through much of the workweek before easing back slightly by Friday. Little to no precipitation is expected, keeping conditions dry across the High Plains.
Meteorologists attribute the warmth to a strong upper-level pattern allowing mild air to dominate much of the central United States, with no significant cold fronts reaching western Kansas until later in the week or beyond.
Residents across Ford County, Finney County, Barber County, and surrounding areas are encouraged to enjoy the mild holiday weather while staying informed, as winter conditions can still return quickly later in the season.
