The Sunflower State isn’t particularly known for frigid temperatures. Sure, it gets cold here, and we do get some snow, but with an average annual snowfall of around 15″, it tends to be a lot less winter precipitation than many other states. We’re around the middle of the pack when it comes to ranking all 50 states based on winter metrics like snowfall, average minimum temperature, and average maximum temperature. But we have had some pretty rough winters in Kansas. A look back in history shows quite a few notable seasons with multiple blizzards, extended freezing temperatures, and sub-zero degree weather. One of the coldest winters in Kansas happened in 1983, when much of the state saw freezing temperatures for nearly three consecutive weeks!

The cold spell that hit Kansas in 1983 was unprecedented. If you were around for the winter of 1983 in Kansas, chances are good that you remember it!
Brian McGuirk/Flickr
Mid-December of that year brought an arctic chill to the Sunflower State. In Dodge City, there were eight straight days of temperatures below 9°F.
Patrick Emerson/Flickr
On Christmas Eve, Dodge City saw a wind chill of an unbelievable -33°F! The actual temperature was -5°F, but wind gusts of 32 miles per hour made it feel even colder.
brent flanders/Flickr

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While the cold was at its worst in the southwestern portion of the state, no area of Kansas was spared. The overall average temperature in the state for December 1983 was just 18°F.
Vincent Parsons/Flickr
Extended periods of such frigid temperatures can have disastrous effects. Even if you are wearing thick clothing, temperatures below 0°F can quickly become deadly.
Jeremy Wineberg/Flickr
Fortunately, our typical winters in Kansas are not anywhere near as cold as December 1983 was.
brent flanders/Flickr

Do you anxiously look forward to winter weather in Kansas each year, or are you more a fan of the spring and summer months? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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