Air Quality
Kansas air quality is generally good, with agricultural dust and ozone the main concerns.
Monitored days with good air quality
1990–2025U.S. EPA AirData, Annual AQI by County, all monitored Kansas counties.
Monitored days unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse
1990–2025U.S. EPA AirData, Annual AQI by County (AQI above 100).
Wildfires
Kansas grassland wildfires burn roughly 200,000 acres in a typical year.
- •The 2017 Starbuck Fire burned over 400,000 acres in southern Kansas, one of the largest in state history.
Drought
About 35% of Kansas was experiencing drought conditions in 2024.
Area in drought (D1–D4), yearly average
2000–2025U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC / USDA / NOAA), average of weekly maps.
Area in extreme or exceptional drought (D3–D4)
2000–2025U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC / USDA / NOAA), average of weekly maps.
- •Western Kansas has faced persistent multi-year drought that has strained the Ogallala Aquifer.
Water Usage
Irrigated agriculture in western Kansas draws heavily on the declining Ogallala aquifer.
- •Parts of the Ogallala aquifer under western Kansas have dropped more than 150 feet.
Emissions
Kansas emits about 19 metric tons of CO2 per resident annually, above the national average.
Energy-related CO₂ emissions
1970–2021U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, all sectors and fuels (FRED EMISSCO2TOTVTTTOKSA).
Transportation CO₂ emissions
1970–2021U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, transportation sector (FRED EMISSCO2TOTVTCTOKSA).
| Indicator | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| CO2 emissions per capita | 19 | 14.5 |
- •Kansas' emissions per capita are elevated in part due to energy-intensive agriculture and refining.
Climate Indicators
Kansas faces intensifying drought, extreme heat and severe storms, with tornadoes a recurring risk.
Average annual temperature
1895–2025NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance, statewide January–December average.
Annual precipitation
1895–2025NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance, statewide January–December total.
- •Kansas averages around 90 tornadoes a year, among the most of any state.