Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Guide Rock experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 308 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 27.9 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 21.3 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 32. The city sits at an elevation of 1,657 feet.
Temperature
25°F Jan (-4°C)77°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average
51.3°F
5% below US avg
January Average
25°F (-4°C)
July Average
77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days
308 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,657 ft (505 m)
Area
0.5 sq mi (1.3 km²)
Population Density
590/sq mi
Coordinates
40.0737°N, 98.3288°W
Timezone
America/Chicago
County
Webster County County
Nearest Airport
Kearney Regional (EAR) 58 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall27.9"
27% below US avg
Snowfall21.3"
Wettest Month (May)4.17"
Driest Month (Jan)0.51"
Air Quality
AQI Median
32.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
55.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability
77.8 / 100
Community Resilience
50.5 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Relatively High
Strong Wind
Relatively High
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
Very Low
Landslide
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
127 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M4.6.
Jun 22, 2019
2 km SSE of Zurich, Kansas
M4.6
134 km
3 km
Jul 17, 2022
8 km WSW of Superior, Nebraska
M3.8
17 km
3 km
Jun 12, 2017
5 km SE of Mankato, Kansas
M3.7
39 km
5 km
Jun 12, 2017
8 km NNE of Jewell, Kansas
M3.7
42 km
5 km
May 6, 2021
5 km S of Formoso, Kansas
M3.6
47 km
5 km
Jun 13, 2017
6 km SE of Mankato, Kansas
M3.6
40 km
5 km
Aug 9, 2021
Kansas
M3.5
40 km
5 km
May 31, 2019
2 km SSE of Zurich, Kansas
M3.5
134 km
5 km
May 30, 1991
5 km SE of Zurich, Kansas
M3.5
134 km
5 km
Jun 25, 2025
10 km NW of Woodston, Kansas
M3.4
97 km
13 km
Jul 26, 2022
8 km WSW of Superior, Nebraska
M3.4
18 km
5 km
Apr 4, 2017
3 km SSE of Mankato, Kansas
M3.4
36 km
15 km
May 21, 2017
7 km ESE of Mankato, Kansas
M3.4
39 km
16 km
Sep 18, 2023
Nebraska
M3.4
12 km
10 km
Jul 29, 2021
11 km SSE of Esbon, Kansas
M3.3
38 km
5 km
Apr 7, 2017
7 km ESE of Mankato, Kansas
M3.3
40 km
13 km
Jan 9, 2013
5 km SE of Formoso, Kansas
M3.3
49 km
5 km
Apr 6, 2023
6 km N of Bennington, Kansas
M3.3
126 km
5 km
Jun 12, 2017
6 km N of Jewell, Kansas
M3.2
42 km
5 km
May 24, 2023
12 km S of Alton, Kansas
M3.2
96 km
7 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
808 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 22 fatalities, 492 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
May 5, 1964
EF5
53 km
79.7 mi
4
May 22, 2004
EF4
89 km
54.0 mi
1
Jun 15, 1992
EF4
73 km
3.0 mi
0
Mar 13, 1990
EF4
17 km
131.0 mi
0
May 10, 1985
EF4
80 km
56.0 mi
0
Jun 3, 1980
EF4
94 km
1.1 mi
3
Apr 7, 1978
EF4
89 km
31.2 mi
0
May 8, 1965
EF4
92 km
125.7 mi
4
May 20, 1957
EF4
93 km
44.6 mi
0
Apr 25, 1957
EF4
86 km
89.8 mi
1
Jun 4, 1955
EF4
64 km
61.9 mi
0
May 6, 2015
EF3
71 km
1.9 mi
0
May 11, 2014
EF3
50 km
20.2 mi
0
May 27, 2013
EF3
30 km
5.7 mi
0
May 29, 2008
EF3
67 km
18.9 mi
0
May 29, 2008
EF3
50 km
55.2 mi
0
Sep 22, 2001
EF3
50 km
10.0 mi
0
May 7, 1993
EF3
24 km
75.0 mi
0
Jun 15, 1992
EF3
98 km
3.0 mi
0
Jun 15, 1992
EF3
74 km
2.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
8 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: NORTH BRANCH (10,926 acres, 2022).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2022
NORTH BRANCH
10,926
14 km
2010
H-RX-F KIR NON NFP
1,435
85 km
2022
KIRWIN SOUTHEAST RX
1,367
87 km
2016
KSKIR RX WUI FY16 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT BURNS
1,123
88 km
2011
W-RX-F NON FUNDED TREATMENT_KSKIR
1,083
88 km
2002
UNNAMED
1,057
99 km
2008
H RX F BOTTOMS
1,009
87 km
1989
UNNAMED
1,009
88 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
25°F (-4°C)
0.5 in
Coldest, Driest
February
30°F (-1°C)
0.7 in
March
40°F (5°C)
2.1 in
April
52°F (11°C)
2.5 in
May
62°F (17°C)
4.2 in
Wettest
June
72°F (22°C)
3.7 in
July
77°F (25°C)
3.4 in
Warmest
August
75°F (24°C)
3.3 in
September
66°F (19°C)
3.3 in
October
54°F (12°C)
1.9 in
November
39°F (4°C)
1.3 in
December
29°F (-2°C)
0.8 in
Guide Rock has a seasonal temperature swing of 52°F / from 25°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 27.5 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.2") and January the driest (0.5").