Summer afternoons in Little River are warmer than in 90% of U.S. towns
January mornings start at about 20°. Its yearly precipitation falls short of 85% of U.S. towns. Compared with 1901–2000, the average now sits 0.9° higher. Plan time outside for April, May, September and October, when highs sit at 67–82°.
A year in Little River at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Little River’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Little River’s place in Kansas beside it.
What a year in Little River feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 184 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 19 and the first by October 23. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Kanopolis Lake, KS, 15 miles from the town’s center, 110 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Little River’s center in zone 6b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −2°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 11 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Windom 7s, KS, falls mostly in February. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 31 inches a year; May is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 73 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Little River
78% of the work is heating. Months averaging under 55° run from November through April.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Kanopolis Lake, KS.
Living with Little River’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
184 frost-free days in zone 6b. The last frost comes by Apr 19 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 23.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: April, May, September and October. 0.0 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Little River from natural hazards, hail is the largest share (27%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 19%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Little River and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Little River yet.
Climates most like Little River’s, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little River, KS | 20° | 93° | 31" | 11" |
| Woodward, OK | 22° | 95° | 26" | 15" |
| Perryton, TX | 22° | 94° | 21" | 14" |
| South Ogden, UT | 21° | 91° | 22" | 23" |
| McCook, NE | 15° | 92° | 21" | 20" |
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Little River averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.6°).
A smaller shift than in 86% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Little River compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Little River’s place among Kansas’.
Little River weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Little River’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Windom 7s, KS. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42° | 20° | 0.7" | 2.4" | 3 | 2 | 25° – 42° |
| February | 47° | 24° | 1.1" | 3.5" | 5 | 3 | 28° – 44° |
| March | 57° | 33° | 2.0" | 1.3" | 6 | 1 | 38° – 56° |
| April | 67° | 42° | 2.6" | 0.6" | 8 | 0 | 48° – 61° |
| May | 77° | 53° | 4.9" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 58° – 73° |
| June | 88° | 63° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 69° – 80° |
| July | 93° | 68° | 4.1" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 76° – 88° |
| August | 90° | 66° | 3.7" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 72° – 85° |
| September | 82° | 58° | 2.5" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 65° – 77° |
| October | 70° | 45° | 2.4" | 0.2" | 6 | 0 | 50° – 62° |
| November | 55° | 32° | 1.3" | 0.2" | 3 | 0 | 36° – 51° |
| December | 44° | 23° | 1.1" | 3.0" | 4 | 2 | 23° – 38° |
| Year | 68° | 44° | 30.6" | 11.2" | 73 | 7 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 38° to 56°. June is the most reliable, staying within 11°.
Where Little River’s numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Little River’s center.
- Snow: Windom 7s, KS.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Kanopolis Lake, KS, 15 miles from the town’s center, 110 ft lower; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Little River’s climate
What is the weather like in Little River?
A typical July afternoon reaches 93°, a January night drops to 20°, and about 11 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than 58% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 90% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Little River in winter?
January nights average 20°. About 127 nights a year reach 32° or below and 3 reach 0° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 25°.
How much snow does Little River get?
About 11 inches in a normal winter at Windom 7s, KS, most of it in February, with snow on the ground about 7 days a year.
How hot does it get in Little River?
July, with a typical high of 93° and a low of 68°. About 57 days a year reach 90° and 9 reach 100° (Kanopolis Lake, KS).
When is the first and last frost in Little River?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by April 19 and the first fall frost by October 23, about 184 frost-free days, at Kanopolis Lake, KS.
What growing zone is Little River in?
Zone 6b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −2°.
What is the best time of year to visit Little River?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), April, May, September and October. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Little River getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 0.9° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 86% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Little River.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.