Fort Riley has chilly winters and warm summers
A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 19°, and about 18 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Fort Riley at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What a year in Fort Riley feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
18 inches of snow, 34 of rain and melt
May is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 102 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
About 193 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 12 and the first by October 26.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
Living with Fort Riley’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
193 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 12 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 26.
About 18" a winter over 6 days with an inch or more, most in February. Snow covers the ground about 20 days a year.
Months averaging under 55° run from November through April. Heating is 78% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 46 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 90°.
The nicest months are April, May, September and October. 3.2 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.
Natural hazards →Fort Riley and its neighbors
Milford has the coldest January nights next door (19°) and Milford the hottest July afternoons (91°). Tap a town to see its climate.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Fort Riley averaged 0.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.2°).
A smaller shift than in 83% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
How Fort Riley compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Kansas.
Fort Riley weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 19° | 0.8" | 4.8" | 5 | 8 | 23° – 41° |
| February | 45° | 23° | 1.1" | 5.0" | 6 | 5 | 26° – 43° |
| March | 56° | 33° | 2.0" | 1.8" | 8 | 1 | 37° – 57° |
| April | 66° | 42° | 3.2" | 0.1" | 10 | 0 | 47° – 60° |
| May | 76° | 53° | 5.0" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 58° – 73° |
| June | 86° | 63° | 4.8" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 69° – 80° |
| July | 90° | 68° | 4.5" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 74° – 85° |
| August | 88° | 66° | 4.3" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 71° – 85° |
| September | 81° | 57° | 2.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 63° – 76° |
| October | 68° | 45° | 2.4" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 49° – 62° |
| November | 54° | 32° | 1.5" | 1.1" | 6 | 1 | 36° – 51° |
| December | 43° | 23° | 1.3" | 4.8" | 5 | 6 | 21° – 38° |
| Year | 66° | 44° | 33.7" | 17.6" | 102 | 20 |
Heating and cooling a home in Fort Riley
78% of the work is heating.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 37° to 57°. June is the most reliable, staying within 11°.
Common questions about Fort Riley’s climate
What is the coldest month in Fort Riley?
January, with a typical high of 40° and a low of 19°.
What is the hottest month in Fort Riley?
July, with a typical high of 90° and a low of 68°. About 46 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Fort Riley get?
About 18 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Fort Riley?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 26, and the last spring frost by April 12.
What is the rainiest month in Fort Riley?
May, with 5.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 34 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Fort Riley.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Fort Riley itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Manhattan, KS (14 mi, snow) and Milford Lake, KS (5 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.