Is Kansas in for damp autumn weather? Here’s what forecasters, Farmers’ Almanac expect
Wichita residents may experience a soggy fall this year, according to meteorologists, who expect more precipitation in the region after “exceptional drought” has plagued portions of the state this summer.
The popular Farmers’ Almanac says it might be an especially chilly autumn, too.
Residents of the Wichita area have about a 33% to 40% chance of seeing above-normal precipitation from August to October, according to the National Weather Service, and chances are about equal for below- or above-normal temperatures, according to the meteorologists.
In northeast Kansas, the probability of more rain than usual is 40% to 50%, according to the NWS. Southwest Kansas residents have a 33% to 50% chance of a hotter fall than what’s typical, the forecast continues.
Here’s what to know about fall weather, including a prediction from the Farmers’ Almanac and data from meteorologists with the NWS.
Typical fall weather in Wichita
The NWS Wichita office provides monthly climate data from 1991 to 2020. Here’s what to know about average fall weather in Wichita.
August:
Average minimum temperature: 68.8 degrees
Average maximum temperature: 91 degrees
Average overall temperature: 79.9 degrees
Total normal precipitation: 4.3 inches
September:
Average minimum temperature: 60.1 degrees
Average maximum temperature: 83.3 degrees
Average overall temperature: 71.7 degrees
Total normal precipitation: 3.05 inches
October:
Average minimum temperature: 47.2 degrees
Average maximum temperature: 70.8 degrees
Average overall temperature: 59 degrees
Total normal precipitation: 2.85 inches
November:
Average minimum temperature: 34.7 degrees
Average maximum temperature: 57 degrees
Average overall temperature: 45.8 degrees
Total normal precipitation: 1.36 inches
The average temperature in Sedgwick County last August was 82.2 degrees, according to data from the National Centers for Environmental Information.
Here’s more on average temperatures in Sedgwick County:
Note: This graphic will automatically update as new data becomes available.
Farmers’ Almanac fall predictions
The almanac forecasts “cooler and drier weather” across the U.S. this fall, with colder temperatures in November and December.
The Farmers’ Almanac’s Extended Fall Forecast 2023 predicts the weather will be “trending colder” in Kansas this autumn, with “above normal” precipitation. This differs from the weather service’s forecast, which says the Wichita area has roughly equal chances of below- or above-normal temperatures.
Most areas could see below-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation this autumn, according to the almanac’s prediction.
The organization makes predictions based on a mysterious formula that considers factors such as planetary positioning, sunspot activity and tidal action of the moon.
“The only person who knows the exact formula is the Farmers’ Almanac weather prognosticator who goes by the pseudonym of Caleb Weatherbee,” the organization’s website says. “To protect this proprietary formula, the editors of the Farmers’ Almanac prefer to keep both Caleb’s true identity and the formula a closely guarded brand secret.”
The Farmers’ Almanac has provided extended forecasts since 1818, according to its website.
