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Weather & Climate in Plains, KS
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Plains enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 323 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 21.1 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 14.4 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39. The city sits at an elevation of 2,760 feet.
Temperature
34°F Jan (1°C)
79°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 55.8°F |
| 3% above US avg | |
| January Average | 34°F (1°C) |
| July Average | 79°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 323 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 2,760 ft (841 m) |
| Area | 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,308/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 37.2642°N, 100.5898°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Meade County County |
| Nearest Airport | Liberal Mid-America Regional (LBL) 25 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 39.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 15.6 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 11.4 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 24.3 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Relatively High |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
50 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.1.
| May 25, 2021 | 3 km WNW of Shattuck, Oklahoma | M4.1 | 124 km | 8 km |
| May 23, 2015 | 6 km NNW of Sun City, Kansas | M4.0 | 146 km | 5 km |
| Sep 18, 2015 | 11 km NNW of Sun City, Kansas | M3.4 | 146 km | 5 km |
| Mar 3, 2017 | 11 km S of Freedom, Oklahoma | M3.3 | 146 km | 6 km |
| May 23, 2015 | 8 km NNW of Sun City, Kansas | M3.3 | 146 km | 5 km |
| Aug 15, 2017 | 26 km SSE of Protection, Kansas | M3.1 | 113 km | 5 km |
| Feb 16, 2018 | 28 km ENE of Buffalo, Oklahoma | M3.1 | 115 km | 3 km |
| Jul 21, 2017 | 26 km SSE of Protection, Kansas | M3.1 | 112 km | 7 km |
| Aug 15, 2017 | 28 km SSE of Protection, Kansas | M3.1 | 115 km | 5 km |
| Oct 25, 1999 | 2 km WNW of Buffalo, Oklahoma | M3.0 | 95 km | 26 km |
| Oct 13, 2017 | 7 km W of Buffalo, Oklahoma | M3.0 | 90 km | 4 km |
| Mar 16, 2018 | 22 km NE of Fort Supply, Oklahoma | M3.0 | 123 km | 4 km |
| Oct 25, 2017 | 23 km NE of Buffalo, Oklahoma | M2.9 | 108 km | 8 km |
| Jul 24, 2017 | 26 km SSE of Protection, Kansas | M2.9 | 112 km | 3 km |
| Jan 21, 2018 | 27 km ENE of Buffalo, Oklahoma | M2.9 | 113 km | 6 km |
| Aug 12, 2019 | 26 km ENE of Buffalo, Oklahoma | M2.9 | 113 km | 5 km |
| Jun 25, 2017 | 6 km N of Buffalo, Oklahoma | M2.8 | 95 km | 3 km |
| Mar 17, 2018 | 22 km NE of Fort Supply, Oklahoma | M2.8 | 123 km | 1 km |
| Jan 6, 2018 | 7 km N of Mooreland, Oklahoma | M2.8 | 150 km | 7 km |
| Jan 25, 2018 | 26 km NW of Freedom, Oklahoma | M2.8 | 119 km | 0 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
612 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 9 fatalities, 188 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| May 5, 1993 | EF4 | 62 km | 23.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 4, 1955 | EF4 | 55 km | 72.2 mi | 0 |
| Jun 15, 2023 | EF3 | 97 km | 6.3 mi | 3 |
| May 23, 2019 | EF3 | 97 km | 15.7 mi | 0 |
| May 17, 2019 | EF3 | 41 km | 29.6 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 2016 | EF3 | 48 km | 14.7 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 2016 | EF3 | 82 km | 1.9 mi | 0 |
| Nov 16, 2015 | EF3 | 31 km | 51.3 mi | 0 |
| May 23, 2008 | EF3 | 77 km | 20.9 mi | 0 |
| May 26, 1996 | EF3 | 37 km | 28.0 mi | 0 |
| May 26, 1996 | EF3 | 49 km | 13.0 mi | 0 |
| May 16, 1995 | EF3 | 74 km | 10.0 mi | 0 |
| May 15, 1995 | EF3 | 79 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 1993 | EF3 | 80 km | 18.5 mi | 0 |
| May 16, 1991 | EF3 | 84 km | 22.0 mi | 0 |
| May 15, 1991 | EF3 | 87 km | 11.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 6, 1989 | EF3 | 39 km | 12.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 21, 1974 | EF3 | 12 km | 2.7 mi | 0 |
| Sep 25, 1973 | EF3 | 96 km | 58.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 25, 1973 | EF3 | 49 km | 5.7 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: OKS - STARBUCK (657,299 acres, 2017).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2017 | OKS - STARBUCK | 657,299 | 65 km |
| 2017 | OKS - 283 | 68,558 | 98 km |
| 2024 | SLAPOUT FIRE | 23,810 | 85 km |
| 1996 | UNNAMED | 23,123 | 32 km |
| 2020 | 412 FIRE | 22,069 | 60 km |
| 2022 | BEAVER RIVER FIRE | 20,512 | 59 km |
| 2016 | BUFFALO | 16,160 | 89 km |
| 2022 | 23 AND DD | 8,885 | 28 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 8,750 | 19 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 7,815 | 69 km |
| 2011 | HASKELL COUNTY | 6,736 | 44 km |
| 1997 | BUOY LINE | 6,118 | 83 km |
| 1994 | UNNAMED | 5,764 | 100 km |
| 2016 | OPTIMA | 5,084 | 78 km |
| 2002 | UNNAMED | 3,967 | 50 km |
| 2010 | MILLER | 3,567 | 77 km |
| 2022 | MILLER RANCH | 3,563 | 77 km |
| 2017 | BLACK MONDAY | 3,376 | 30 km |
| 2017 | OKS - BEAVER | 3,168 | 60 km |
| 2017 | 2017-117 | 3,103 | 76 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34°F (1°C) | 0.4 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 37°F (3°C) | 0.6 in | |
| March | 45°F (7°C) | 1.4 in | |
| April | 54°F (12°C) | 1.6 in | |
| May | 64°F (18°C) | 3.2 in | Wettest |
| June | 74°F (23°C) | 3.2 in | |
| July | 79°F (26°C) | 2.8 in | Warmest |
| August | 77°F (25°C) | 2.5 in | |
| September | 69°F (20°C) | 1.9 in | |
| October | 57°F (14°C) | 1.3 in | |
| November | 43°F (6°C) | 0.9 in | |
| December | 34°F (1°C) | 0.5 in |
Plains has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 34°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 20.2 inches, with May being the wettest month (3.2") and January the driest (0.4").