Wichita, Kansas – January 2026 delivered a dramatic temperature reversal across much of Kansas, starting with near-record warmth before ending with one of the coldest late-January periods in decades, according to the National Weather Service Wichita office.
Climate data shows the first half of January ranked among the warmest on record for several cities. Wichita averaged 9.4 degrees above normal from January 1 through January 15, making it the 4th warmest start to January, the warmest since 2006. Salina ranked 3rd warmest, averaging 10.1 degrees above normal, while Chanute ranked 5th warmest at 8.6 degrees above normal.
That pattern shifted sharply during the second half of the month. From January 16 through January 31, temperatures plunged well below average. Wichita averaged 12.4 degrees below normal, ranking as its 9th coldest late January on record, the coldest since 1978. Salina and Chanute both ranked 10th coldest, with departures near 12 degrees below normal, also the coldest since the late 1970s.
The National Weather Service described January as a “tale of two months,” with the extreme cold at the end fully erasing the warmth of the first half. The result was a month that finished near or below normal overall, despite the unusually warm start.
The coldest conditions were most noticeable along major corridors such as Interstate 135 and Interstate 35 near Wichita, Interstate 70 near Salina, and U.S. Highway 54 and U.S. 169 in southeast Kansas, where persistent cold affected travel, infrastructure, and heating demand.
Forecasters emphasized that while brief warm spells can skew early monthly averages, prolonged cold later in the month often has greater real-world impacts.
This temperature swing was especially noticeable for commuters, students, and outdoor workers, who experienced both springlike warmth and deep winter cold within the same month.
Residents are encouraged to review seasonal outlooks as winter patterns continue to fluctuate.
