McDonald, KS

Full City Profile · Kansas · Rawlins County County

3.7 /5.0
B+ Good
190 Population 864/sq mi density
$88,171 Median Income $33,275 per capita
$23,600 Home Value $110,999 Zillow
52°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.7 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.8 / 5.0
$88,171 median income, 0.7% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$23,600 home value, /mo rent
F
Education
1.3 / 5.0
3.3% bachelor's degree or higher
McDonald experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 20.8 inches. The area receives 33.6 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

30°F Jan (-1°C) 76°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average51.9°F
4% below US avg
January Average30°F (-1°C)
July Average76°F (25°C)

Geography

Elevation3,367 ft (1,026 m)
Area0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²)
Population Density864/sq mi
Coordinates39.7847°N, 101.3702°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyRawlins County County
Nearest AirportMc Cook Ben Nelson Regional (MCK)
50 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 20.8"
45% below US avg
Snowfall 33.6"
Wettest Month (Jul) 3.29"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.46"

Air Quality

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score4.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability10.6 / 100
Community Resilience31.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Very Low
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Very Low
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Very Low
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

14 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.5. Most recent: M2.8 on Jul 29, 2025.

Jun 1, 2025 9 km S of Hill City, Kansas M3.5 143 km
Nov 13, 2001 Kansas M3.3 102 km
Apr 16, 2007 11 km WSW of Maywood, Nebraska M3.0 106 km
Feb 14, 2003 7 km S of Holbrook, Nebraska M2.9 125 km
May 31, 2025 3 km SSE of Hill City, Kansas M2.9 142 km
Apr 14, 2002 12 km SSW of Lebanon, Nebraska M2.8 91 km
Jul 29, 2025 16 km S of Hill City, Kansas M2.8 147 km
Jul 5, 2025 17 km NNE of Collyer, Kansas M2.7 131 km
Jul 11, 2025 2 km E of Hill City, Kansas M2.7 142 km
Sep 10, 2010 8 km WNW of Norton, Kansas M2.6 119 km
Jul 11, 2025 6 km SE of Hill City, Kansas M2.6 145 km
Jul 5, 2025 7 km SW of Bogue, Kansas M2.6 147 km
Jul 5, 2025 7 km S of Hill City, Kansas M2.5 143 km
Aug 29, 2024 5 km SE of Hill City, Kansas M2.5 144 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

550 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 36 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 15, 1990 EF4 42 km 0
May 19, 1982 EF3 85 km 0
Oct 17, 1971 EF3 71 km 0
Oct 17, 1971 EF3 18 km 0
Jun 14, 1970 EF3 80 km 0
Jun 6, 1967 EF3 66 km 0
May 4, 1965 EF3 67 km 0
May 4, 1960 EF3 48 km 0
Jun 5, 1953 EF3 51 km 0
May 20, 1951 EF3 1 km 0
May 14, 1951 EF3 4 km 0
Aug 8, 2023 EF2 90 km 0
May 26, 2021 EF2 44 km 0
May 17, 2019 EF2 70 km 0
May 7, 2016 EF2 82 km 0
May 9, 2015 EF2 75 km 0
May 22, 2008 EF2 88 km 0
Mar 28, 2007 EF2 37 km 0
Aug 10, 1996 EF2 97 km 0
May 12, 1995 EF2 49 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

11 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (4,777 ac, 1997).

Year Name Acres Distance
1997 UNNAMED 4,777 58 km
2019 CHERRY CREEK 4,273 32 km
2000 UNNAMED 2,535 89 km
2011 ZWEYGARDT 2,118 53 km
2007 WANO 1,556 34 km
2002 UNNAMED 1,488 46 km
2002 UNNAMED 1,476 65 km
1990 UNNAMED 1,285 77 km
2007 BRADSHAW 1,255 96 km
1996 UNNAMED 1,154 100 km
2022 COUNTY ROAD 56 1,076 89 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 30°F (-1°C) 0.5 in Coldest, Driest
February 32°F (-0°C) 0.6 in
March 41°F (5°C) 1.1 in
April 49°F (10°C) 2.2 in
May 60°F (15°C) 3.0 in
June 71°F (22°C) 3.0 in
July 76°F (25°C) 3.3 in Warmest, Wettest
August 74°F (24°C) 3.0 in
September 66°F (19°C) 1.3 in
October 53°F (12°C) 1.6 in
November 40°F (4°C) 0.7 in
December 31°F (-1°C) 0.6 in

McDonald has a seasonal temperature swing of 47°F / from 30°F in January to 76°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 20.8 inches, with July being the wettest month (3.3") and January the driest (0.5").

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