Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Hays, Kansas Weather

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Hays weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Hays, KS
Saturday, July 4 at 11:44 PM
72
°
Partly Cloudy
Feels like
75°
Humidity
75%
Wind
5 mph
Sunrise
1:17 AM
Sunset
4:06 PM
Hays, KS
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastHays, KS: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 65 to 94 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 65°H 94°
Hays, KS
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Heavy Drizzle
    68%
    0.08″
    86°66°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    —
    —
    94°65°+8°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Partly Cloudy
    —
    —
    96°69°+2°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    —
    —
    97°73°+1°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    25%
    —
    104°76°+7°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Light Drizzle
    29%
    —
    98°74°-6°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Showers
    29%
    0.02″
    98°73°0°
Hays, KS
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°55°78°100°6p12a6a12pnow 73°high 94°low 65°
Hays, KS
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
ENE
067° · veering 31°
Direction
ENE
067°
Sustained
5
mph
Gust
5
mph
Peak 24h
32
avg 8
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 8 · pk 32 @ 5:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 169SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Hays, KS
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
944.6
+1.2 mb in 3h · rising · 27.89 inHg
Now
944.6
mb
3h
+1.2
mb
12h
+0.9
mb
24h
+2.0
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 942–947
935940945950955-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW946.7941.7944.3
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
The low is filling — pressure climbing out of storm territory.
Hays, KS
Air quality
52
AQI
Moderate
↑+6 in 6h

AQI 52 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5. AQI up 6 over the last 6 hours (gradual rise). PM2.5 at 7.3 µg/m³ (AQI 41) with a 0.88 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
7.3μg/m³
PM 10Good
8μg/m³
NO₂Good
6μg/m³
OzoneModerate
68μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 32 now. With UV 0.0 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 8 around 1 PM.

Present
AQI 32
UV peak
0.0 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 8

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 7.3 µg/m³ (AQI 41) with a 0.88 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.88
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Hays, KS
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
50%
PARTLY CLOUDY
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
41.8mi
UNLIMITED
86 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
04:44 UTC · Hays, KS · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
04:44 UTC · Hays, KS · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Hays, KS
Satellite · infrared · animated
Hays, KS
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Hays, KS
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:46 AM
Sunrise
1:17 AM
Daylight
14h 49m
Sunset
4:06 PM
Civil dusk
9:39 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Hays, KS
The moon
Waning Gibbous
76% illuminated
Moonrise
11:55 PM
Moonset
11:52 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Hays, KS
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Hays at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 72°F — typical for the season
  • Last frost: April 9 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 67601

16-Day Forecast — Hays

  1. Sat86°66°68%
  2. Sun94°65°1%
  3. Mon96°69°3%
  4. Tue97°73°5%
  5. Wed104°76°25%
  6. Thu98°74°29%
  7. Fri98°73°29%
  8. Sat81°67°14%
  9. Sun87°66°2%
  10. Mon93°67°2%
  11. Tue99°69°2%
  12. Wed106°72°10%
  13. Thu114°78°17%
  14. Fri114°81°13%
  15. Sat109°84°16%
  16. Sun100°80°23%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Hays

SPC has placed Hays in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
  • DAY 3NONENo severe risk

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

Dog-day cicadas emerge in waves, their rasp dominating every sunny hour; heat peaks above 90 degrees daily.

Day 186 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

The year in Hays tops out in July (~80°F) and dips lowest in January (~32°F), with July wettest at 4.1 inches and January driest at 0.6 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January32°0.6″2
February35°0.8″2
March45°1.3″3
April53°2.2″5
May64°3.6″6
June76°3.1″5
July80°4.1″5
August78°3.6″6
September70°2.1″4
October56°1.8″4
November43°0.9″2
December34°0.8″2

Regional context

By the nearest station's NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Hays sees 32°F Januarys and 80°F Julys, a 48°F range, plus around 24.8 inches of precipitation across 45 days.

Hays's rain peaks in summer: July brings 4.1 inches over 5.4 thunderstorm-fed days, while January sees just 0.6 inches across 1.5 days under cooler, drier air. That summer-storm rhythm groups Hays with places like Munjor, KS, Catharine, KS and Victoria, KS.

By mid-April the frosts ease in Hays, opening the season for peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. Hold Hays's tender crops — tomatoes, peppers, basil — until 10-14 days past Hays's last frost. It shuts near mid-November, when freezes return to Hays and tender plants need cover. In Hays, low spots run 4-7°F colder than nearby slopes, nudging Hays's frost dates a week.

Similar climates: Munjor, KS, Catharine, KS, Victoria, KS, Schoenchen, KS, Ellis, KS.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Hays?
In Hays, expect the last spring frost near mid-April; Hays's first autumn frost comes around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Hays?
Hays sees its heaviest rain in July (around 4.1 inches), part of roughly 25 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Hays?
On average July tops the year in Hays at about 80°F.
What is the coldest month in Hays?
The coldest stretch in Hays falls in January, around 32°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Hays?
Hardy spring crops go in near mid-April in Hays; tender peppers and squash wait 10–14 days.
How many rainy days does Hays get?
Hays records around 45 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Hays?
Since January in Hays averages 32°F, Hays's USDA zone follows that floor — confirm it by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Hays?
Hays's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Hays?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Hays in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Hays?
Current conditions for Hays and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Hays forecast updated?
The Hays forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Hays?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Hays are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Hays?
The next few days in Hays's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Set in a humid subtropical zone, Hays, Kansas swings from 32°F in the heart of winter to 80°F at midsummer — a 48°F arc.

Hays sees close to 25 inches of precipitation annually, falling across some 45 wet days.

Hays sits at 38.9°N; that 48°F seasonal swing frames planting windows and frost dates across Hays.

All cities in Kansas →

Wichita, KS weather →

ZIP codes in Hays

  • 67601

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.