KANSAS – Wichita, Overland Park, Topeka and Lawrence are approaching winter 2026-27 with a reminder that Kansas historically averages 16.31 inches of annual snowfall across its weather stations. Although El Niño can influence seasonal weather patterns, it does not eliminate snowstorms, dangerous cold or highway disruptions, including winter weather that can continue through March.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), its October 15, 2026, outlook for December through February favors above-normal temperatures across Kansas, generally with probabilities between 33% and 50%. Precipitation probabilities favor above-normal totals across western and central Kansas, while eastern areas show less decisive signals. The seasonal outlook does not predict snowfall totals or individual storms.
What Kansas’ Snowfall History Actually Shows Kansas’ 16.31-inch historical snowfall figure represents an average across weather stations statewide, not the snowfall normal for Wichita, Topeka or another individual city…