River, KS climate
River has chilly winters and hot summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 20°, and about 14 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in River feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
River 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 | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43° | 20° | 0.7" | 2.2" | 2 | 24° – 42° |
| February | 48° | 23° | 0.9" | 3.9" | 3 | 27° – 44° |
| March | 58° | 32° | 1.7" | 1.7" | 5 | 38° – 55° |
| April | 67° | 41° | 2.0" | 0.6" | 6 | 47° – 61° |
| May | 77° | 51° | 4.1" | 0 | 7 | 56° – 71° |
| June | 87° | 62° | 3.6" | 0 | 7 | 69° – 79° |
| July | 92° | 67° | 3.7" | 0 | 7 | 76° – 86° |
| August | 90° | 65° | 3.4" | 0 | 7 | 71° – 83° |
| September | 82° | 56° | 1.9" | 0 | 4 | 65° – 76° |
| October | 70° | 43° | 2.0" | 0.2" | 5 | 50° – 62° |
| November | 56° | 30° | 1.0" | 1.7" | 3 | 36° – 51° |
| December | 45° | 22° | 1.0" | 3.4" | 3 | 26° – 38° |
| Year | 68° | 43° | 26.0" | 13.7" | 59 |
“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 River
River gets 26 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 59 days a year.
About 182 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 22 and the first one by October 22. That leaves about 182 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 55% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in River
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In River, 75% of that work is heating and 25% is cooling.
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.
River and its neighbors
River borders 5 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.4°. Pawnee Rock has the coldest January nights (20°) and Larned the hottest July afternoons (92°). River’s January low is 20° and its July high 92°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How River 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 River averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.6°). The shift is smaller than in 80% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at River’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 24° to 42°. June is the most reliable, staying within 10°.
Common questions about River’s climate
What is the coldest month in River?
January, with a typical high of 43° and a low of 20°.
What is the hottest month in River?
July, with a typical high of 92° and a low of 67°. About 79 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does River get?
About 14 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in River?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 22, and the last spring frost by April 22.
What is the rainiest month in River?
May, with 4.1 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 26 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for River itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Albert 5se, KS (12 mi, snow) and Larned #2, KS (7 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.