Ready for Wichita’s first frost of the season? It may be closer than you think
While Wichitans are still dressing for 80-degree days, the average first freeze in the area is likely just weeks away, one forecaster for the National Weather Service told The Eagle.
The first day of fall was Sept. 22, but the weather still feels a bit like summertime in Wichita, with sunny days and highs sitting in the upper 80s. Cooler weather is on its way, however.
The average first freeze in Wichita— defined by the temperature sitting at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit — is Oct. 27, said James Cuellar with the NWS.
That first frost date is similar to most parts of Kansas, according to data from the weather service. Shawnee County, where Topeka is, usually sees its first freeze in the Oct. 12 to 17 range. Johnson County sees its first freeze around Oct. 17 to Oct. 26. Northwest Kansas usually sees the earliest freeze dates in the state, anywhere from mid-September to early October.
The average high temperatures for the beginning of October are in the mid to upper 70s, with the average low sitting around 54 degrees. The end of October is when you start seeing fall-like temperatures, with highs usually sitting in the mid 60s and lows in the low 40s, Cuellar said.
“The beginning of the month and the end of the month … does change quite a bit,” he said.
Cuellar said looking at recent weather trends, Wichita could possibly experience a warmer October than previous years.
“We will probably see some unseasonably warm temperatures … It’s not out of this world or anything like that, but just a dose on the warm side,” he said.
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center shows Kansas with a 40 to 50% chance of seeing higher-than-normal temperatures for October through December.
The average measurable first snow, which is defined by precipitation of more than a tenth of an inch, usually lands Dec. 2 in Wichita.
This story was originally published October 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
