McDonald, KS climate
McDonald has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 91°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 34 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in McDonald feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
McDonald 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 | 43° | 17° | 0.4" | 5.8" | 3 | 10 | 19° – 40° |
| February | 45° | 19° | 0.5" | 5.6" | 4 | 9 | 23° – 40° |
| March | 56° | 28° | 0.9" | 5.4" | 5 | 4 | 34° – 51° |
| April | 64° | 35° | 2.0" | 4.1" | 8 | 1 | 45° – 56° |
| May | 74° | 46° | 2.8" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 52° – 65° |
| June | 86° | 56° | 3.0" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 66° – 77° |
| July | 91° | 62° | 3.3" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 71° – 81° |
| August | 88° | 60° | 2.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 69° – 79° |
| September | 81° | 51° | 1.5" | 0.7" | 5 | 0 | 59° – 72° |
| October | 67° | 38° | 1.5" | 2.1" | 6 | 1 | 44° – 58° |
| November | 54° | 26° | 0.7" | 4.7" | 5 | 4 | 31° – 47° |
| December | 43° | 18° | 0.5" | 5.2" | 3 | 9 | 23° – 36° |
| Year | 66° | 38° | 20.1" | 33.6" | 76 | 37 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in McDonald
McDonald gets 20 inches of rain and melted snow a year. July is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 76 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 37 days of the year.
About 160 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 4 and the first one by October 12. That leaves about 160 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 71% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in McDonald
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In McDonald, 85% of that work is heating and 15% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How McDonald compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in McDonald averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+3.3°). The shift is larger than in 53% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at McDonald’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. January swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 19° to 40°. July is the most reliable, staying within 10°.
Common questions about McDonald’s climate
What is the coldest month in McDonald?
January, with a typical high of 43° and a low of 17°.
What is the hottest month in McDonald?
July, with a typical high of 91° and a low of 62°. About 54 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does McDonald get?
About 34 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in McDonald?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 12, and the last spring frost by May 4.
What is the rainiest month in McDonald?
July, with 3.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 20 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for McDonald itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Mc Donald, KS (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.