Geography of Kansas

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The Great Plains of Kansas Great Plains LCC (14285769265).jpg
The Great Plains of Kansas
Kanopolis State Park Kanopolissp.JPG
Kanopolis State Park

The U.S. state of Kansas is bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. The state is divided into 105 counties with 628 cities, with its largest county by area being Butler County. [1] Kansas is located equidistant from the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is in Smith County near Lebanon. Until 1989, the Meades Ranch Triangulation Station in Osborne County was the geodetic center of North America: the central reference point for all maps of North America. The geographic center of Kansas is in Barton County.

Contents

Geology and Topography

Kansas is underlain by a sequence of horizontal to gently westward dipping sedimentary rocks. A sequence of Mississippian, Pennsylvanian and Permian rocks outcrop in the eastern and southern part of the state. The state's western half has exposures of Cretaceous through Tertiary sediments, the latter derived from the erosion of the uplifted Rocky Mountains to the west. These are underlain by older Paleozoic and Mesozoic sediments which correlate well with the outcrops to the east. The state's northeastern corner was subjected to glaciation in the Pleistocene and is covered by glacial drift and loess.

Physiographic regions of Kansas KS-PhysiographicDivisions.png
Physiographic regions of Kansas

Kansas has been divided into eleven different physiographic regions. [3]

The western two-thirds of the state, lying in the great central plain of the United States, has a generally flat or undulating surface, while the eastern third has many hills and forests. The land gradually rises from east to west; its altitude ranges from 684 ft (208 m) along the Verdigris River at Coffeyville in Montgomery County, to 4,039 ft (1,231 m) at Mount Sunflower, 0.5 miles (0.80 kilometers) from the Colorado border, in Wallace County. It is a common misconception that Kansas is the flattest state in the nation—in 2003, a tongue-in-cheek study famously declared the state "flatter than a pancake". [4] In fact, Kansas has a maximum topographic relief of 3,360 ft (1,020 m), [5] making it the 23rd flattest U.S. state measured by maximum relief. [6]

Features

Rivers

Spring River, Kansas Spring River 2006-07-03 2104.jpg
Spring River, Kansas

Nearly 75 mi (121 km) of the state's northeastern boundary is defined by the Missouri River. The Kansas River (locally known as the Kaw), formed by the junction of the Smoky Hill and Republican rivers at appropriately-named Junction City, joins the Missouri River at Kansas City, after a course of 170 mi (270 km) across the northeastern part of the state.

The Arkansas River (pronunciation varies), rising in Colorado, flows with a bending course for nearly 500 mi (800 km) across the western and southern parts of the state. With its tributaries, (the Little Arkansas, Ninnescah, Walnut, Cow Creek, Cimarron, Verdigris, and the Neosho), it forms the southern drainage system of the state.

Kansas's other rivers are the Saline and Solomon Rivers, tributaries of the Smoky Hill River; the Big Blue, Delaware, and Wakarusa, which flow into the Kansas River; and the Marais des Cygnes, a tributary of the Missouri River. Spring River is located between Riverton and Baxter Springs.

National parks and historic sites

Areas under the protection of the National Park Service include: [7]

Flora and fauna

In Kansas, there are currently 238 species of rare animals and 400 rare plants. [8] Among those include: Boechera laevigata , Virginia Rail, Cleft Ledge, Royal Fern, Turkey-tangle, Bobolink, Cave Salamander, Peregrine Falcon, and Black-footed ferret. [9] [10] Common animal species and grasses include: Crows, Deer, Lesser Prairie Chicken, Mice, Moles, Opossum, Prairie Dogs, Raccoon, Tripsacum dactyloides , Prairie Dropseed, Indian Grass, Little Bluestem, Switch Grass, Northern Sea Oats, Tussock Sedge, Sideoats Grama, and Big Bluestem. [11] [12]

Climate

Koppen climate types of Kansas, using 1991-2020 climate normals. Koppen Climate Types Kansas.png
Köppen climate types of Kansas, using 1991-2020 climate normals.
Clouds in northeastern Kansas Kansas Windmills.JPG
Clouds in northeastern Kansas
Kansas summer wheat and storm panorama Kansas Summer Wheat and Storm Panorama.jpg
Kansas summer wheat and storm panorama

According to the Köppen climate classification, Kansas's climate can be characterized in terms of three types: it has humid continental, semi-arid steppe, and humid subtropical. The eastern two-thirds of the state (especially the northeastern portion) has a humid continental climate, with cool to cold winters and hot, often humid summers. Most of the precipitation falls during both the summer and the spring.

The western third of the state—from roughly the U.S. Route 83 corridor westward—has a semi-arid steppe climate. Summers are hot, often very hot, and generally less humid. Winters are highly changeable between warm and very cold. The western region receives an average of about 16 inches (410 millimeters) of precipitation per year. Chinook winds in the winter can warm western Kansas all the way into the 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) range.

The south-central and southeastern portions of the state, including the Wichita area, have a humid subtropical climate with hot and humid summers, milder winters, and more precipitation than elsewhere in Kansas. Some features of all three climates can be found in most of the state, with droughts and changeable weather between dry and humid not uncommon, and both warm and cold spells in the winter.

Temperatures in areas between U.S. Routes 83 and 81, as well as the southwestern portion of the state along and south of U.S. 50, reach 90 °F (32 °C) or above on most days of June, July, and August. High humidity added to the high temperatures sends the heat index into life-threatening territory, especially in Wichita, Hutchinson, Salina, Russell, Hays, and Great Bend. Temperatures are often higher in Dodge City, Garden City, and Liberal, but the heat index in those three cities is usually lower than the actual air temperature.

Although temperatures of 100 °F (38 °C) or higher are not as common in areas east of U.S. 81, higher humidity and the urban heat island effect lead most summer days to heat indices between 107 °F (42 °C) and 114 °F (46 °C) in Topeka, Lawrence, and the Kansas City metropolitan area. Also, combined with humidity between 85 and 95 percent, dangerous heat indices can be experienced at every hour of the day.

Precipitation ranges from about 47 inches (1,200 mm) annually in the state's southeast corner to about 16 inches (410 mm) in the southwest. Snowfall ranges from around 5 inches (130 mm) in the fringes of the south, to 35 inches (890 mm) in the far northwest. Frost-free days range from more than 200 days in the south, to 130 days in the northwest. Thus, Kansas is the country's ninth or tenth sunniest state, depending on the source. Western Kansas is as sunny as parts of California and Arizona.

Kansas is prone to severe weather, especially in the spring and the early-summer. Despite the frequent sunshine throughout much of the state, due to its location at a climatic boundary prone to intrusions of multiple air masses, the state is vulnerable to strong and severe thunderstorms. Some of these storms become supercell thunderstorms; these can produce some tornadoes, occasionally those of EF3 strength or higher. Kansas averages more than 50 tornadoes annually. [13] Severe thunderstorms sometimes drop some very large hail over Kansas as well. Furthermore, these storms can even bring in flash flooding and damaging straight line winds.

According to NOAA, the all-time highest temperature recorded in Kansas is (121 °F or 49.4 °C) on July 24, 1936, near Alton in Osborne County, and the all-time low is −40 °F (−40 °C) on February 13, 1905, near Lebanon in Smith County. Alton and Lebanon are approximately 50 miles (80 km) apart. [14]

Kansas's record high of 121 °F (49.4 °C) ties with North Dakota for the fifth-highest record high in an American state, behind California (134 °F or 56.7 °C), Arizona (128 °F or 53.3 °C), Nevada (125 °F or 51.7 °C), and New Mexico (122 °F or 50 °C). [15] [16]

Climate data

Monthly normal high and low temperatures for various Kansas cities (°F) [17]
CityJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Concordia36/1743/2254/3164/4174/5285/6291/6788/6680/5668/4451/3040/21
Dodge City41/1948/2457/3167/4176/5287/6293/6791/6682/5670/4455/3044/22
Goodland39/1645/2053/2663/3572/4684/5689/6187/6078/5066/3850/2541/18
Topeka37/1744/2355/3366/4375/5384/6389/6888/6580/5669/4453/3241/22
Wichita40/2047/2557/3467/4476/5487/6493/6992/6882/5970/4755/3443/24
Climate data for Topeka (Köppen Cfa/Dfa) [lower-alpha 1]
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)78
(26)
84
(29)
93
(34)
97
(36)
103
(39)
109
(43)
114
(46)
113
(45)
110
(43)
97
(36)
85
(29)
77
(25)
114
(46)
Mean maximum °F (°C)63.0
(17.2)
69.4
(20.8)
78.7
(25.9)
86.1
(30.1)
90.2
(32.3)
94.8
(34.9)
99.7
(37.6)
100.0
(37.8)
93.7
(34.3)
86.8
(30.4)
74.5
(23.6)
63.7
(17.6)
101.8
(38.8)
Average high °F (°C)39.9
(4.4)
45.0
(7.2)
56.4
(13.6)
66.7
(19.3)
75.9
(24.4)
84.7
(29.3)
89.5
(31.9)
88.6
(31.4)
80.4
(26.9)
68.4
(20.2)
54.6
(12.6)
41.7
(5.4)
66.1
(18.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)29.7
(−1.3)
34.4
(1.3)
44.8
(7.1)
55.1
(12.8)
65.0
(18.3)
74.2
(23.4)
79.0
(26.1)
77.4
(25.2)
68.4
(20.2)
56.6
(13.7)
43.8
(6.6)
32.0
(0.0)
55.0
(12.8)
Average low °F (°C)19.6
(−6.9)
23.8
(−4.6)
33.3
(0.7)
43.5
(6.4)
54.2
(12.3)
63.7
(17.6)
68.4
(20.2)
66.2
(19.0)
56.3
(13.5)
44.7
(7.1)
33.0
(0.6)
22.3
(−5.4)
44.2
(6.8)
Mean minimum °F (°C)0.2
(−17.7)
3.2
(−16.0)
15.7
(−9.1)
27.1
(−2.7)
38.8
(3.8)
50.4
(10.2)
56.6
(13.7)
53.4
(11.9)
38.8
(3.8)
27.9
(−2.3)
16.7
(−8.5)
3.1
(−16.1)
−6.3
(−21.3)
Record low °F (°C)−23
(−31)
−25
(−32)
−7
(−22)
10
(−12)
26
(−3)
36
(2)
43
(6)
40
(4)
29
(−2)
16
(−9)
−5
(−21)
−26
(−32)
−26
(−32)
Average precipitation inches (mm)0.86
(22)
1.32
(34)
2.49
(63)
3.53
(90)
4.91
(125)
5.40
(137)
3.82
(97)
4.24
(108)
3.66
(93)
3.03
(77)
1.85
(47)
1.35
(34)
36.46
(926)
Average snowfall inches (cm)4.9
(12)
4.5
(11)
1.6
(4.1)
0.3
(0.76)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.3
(0.76)
1.0
(2.5)
5.2
(13)
17.8
(45)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)5.56.39.09.711.611.58.78.67.88.16.86.099.6
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)3.62.91.30.30000001.23.412.7
Average relative humidity (%)69.769.265.864.168.571.269.970.872.468.070.872.369.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours 177.4168.8212.6231.7268.5293.0326.9291.7233.4212.4157.8150.52,724.7
Percent possible sunshine 59565758606672696361525161
Source: NOAA (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990) [18] [19] [20]
Climate data for Wichita (Köppen Cfa)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)75
(24)
87
(31)
92
(33)
98
(37)
102
(39)
110
(43)
113
(45)
114
(46)
108
(42)
97
(36)
86
(30)
83
(28)
114
(46)
Mean maximum °F (°C)65.8
(18.8)
71.6
(22.0)
79.9
(26.6)
85.3
(29.6)
92.0
(33.3)
98.4
(36.9)
103.7
(39.8)
102.2
(39.0)
97.3
(36.3)
89.0
(31.7)
75.5
(24.2)
65.3
(18.5)
104.9
(40.5)
Average high °F (°C)43.9
(6.6)
48.9
(9.4)
59.1
(15.1)
68.3
(20.2)
77.5
(25.3)
87.9
(31.1)
92.6
(33.7)
91.0
(32.8)
83.3
(28.5)
70.8
(21.6)
57.0
(13.9)
45.8
(7.7)
68.8
(20.4)
Daily mean °F (°C)33.2
(0.7)
37.6
(3.1)
47.4
(8.6)
56.5
(13.6)
66.7
(19.3)
76.9
(24.9)
81.5
(27.5)
79.9
(26.6)
71.7
(22.1)
59.0
(15.0)
45.8
(7.7)
35.6
(2.0)
57.7
(14.3)
Average low °F (°C)22.5
(−5.3)
26.3
(−3.2)
35.7
(2.1)
44.8
(7.1)
55.9
(13.3)
65.9
(18.8)
70.4
(21.3)
68.8
(20.4)
60.1
(15.6)
47.2
(8.4)
34.7
(1.5)
25.4
(−3.7)
46.5
(8.1)
Mean minimum °F (°C)5.1
(−14.9)
8.4
(−13.1)
17.1
(−8.3)
28.2
(−2.1)
40.5
(4.7)
53.9
(12.2)
61.4
(16.3)
59.3
(15.2)
44.6
(7.0)
29.7
(−1.3)
17.9
(−7.8)
8.4
(−13.1)
1.0
(−17.2)
Record low °F (°C)−15
(−26)
−22
(−30)
−3
(−19)
15
(−9)
27
(−3)
43
(6)
51
(11)
45
(7)
31
(−1)
14
(−10)
1
(−17)
−16
(−27)
−22
(−30)
Average precipitation inches (mm)0.85
(22)
1.20
(30)
2.30
(58)
3.10
(79)
5.17
(131)
4.93
(125)
3.98
(101)
4.30
(109)
3.05
(77)
2.85
(72)
1.36
(35)
1.22
(31)
34.31
(871)
Average snowfall inches (cm)2.7
(6.9)
3.6
(9.1)
2.1
(5.3)
0.2
(0.51)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.2
(0.51)
0.8
(2.0)
3.1
(7.9)
12.7
(32)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)4.85.37.48.311.39.58.38.26.96.65.15.487.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)2.72.21.00.30.00.00.00.00.00.20.62.29.2
Average relative humidity (%)69.968.363.862.867.064.358.961.166.865.170.071.765.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 190.9186.4230.4257.8289.8305.0342.1309.2245.6226.3170.2168.72,922.4
Percent possible sunshine 62626265666976736665565766
Average ultraviolet index 235791010975326
Source: National Weather Service (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990); [21] [22] [23]
Climate data for Dodge City (Köppen BSk/Cfa) [lower-alpha 2]
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)80
(27)
88
(31)
98
(37)
100
(38)
106
(41)
111
(44)
109
(43)
109
(43)
107
(42)
101
(38)
91
(33)
86
(30)
111
(44)
Mean maximum °F (°C)68.2
(20.1)
73.9
(23.3)
81.7
(27.6)
88.6
(31.4)
94.0
(34.4)
99.7
(37.6)
103.9
(39.9)
102.1
(38.9)
97.6
(36.4)
89.8
(32.1)
77.2
(25.1)
66.9
(19.4)
105.1
(40.6)
Average high °F (°C)44.2
(6.8)
48.4
(9.1)
57.8
(14.3)
67.5
(19.7)
76.9
(24.9)
86.7
(30.4)
92.8
(33.8)
90.8
(32.7)
82.4
(28.0)
69.7
(20.9)
55.9
(13.3)
44.3
(6.8)
68.2
(20.1)
Daily mean °F (°C)32.3
(0.2)
36.0
(2.2)
44.5
(6.9)
54.0
(12.2)
64.3
(17.9)
74.0
(23.3)
79.7
(26.5)
78.2
(25.7)
69.3
(20.7)
56.6
(13.7)
43.2
(6.2)
32.9
(0.5)
55.4
(13.0)
Average low °F (°C)20.1
(−6.6)
23.4
(−4.8)
31.0
(−0.6)
40.2
(4.6)
51.5
(10.8)
61.0
(16.1)
66.3
(19.1)
65.3
(18.5)
56.0
(13.3)
43.4
(6.3)
30.3
(−0.9)
21.2
(−6.0)
42.6
(5.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C)2.9
(−16.2)
4.7
(−15.2)
12.9
(−10.6)
24.7
(−4.1)
36.3
(2.4)
49.0
(9.4)
56.3
(13.5)
54.9
(12.7)
39.1
(3.9)
26.9
(−2.8)
13.4
(−10.3)
3.6
(−15.8)
−4.3
(−20.2)
Record low °F (°C)−20
(−29)
−26
(−32)
−15
(−26)
9
(−13)
19
(−7)
36
(2)
46
(8)
43
(6)
29
(−2)
10
(−12)
−13
(−25)
−21
(−29)
−26
(−32)
Average precipitation inches (mm)0.58
(15)
0.68
(17)
1.59
(40)
1.82
(46)
2.85
(72)
3.24
(82)
3.08
(78)
2.75
(70)
1.67
(42)
1.74
(44)
0.76
(19)
0.84
(21)
21.60
(549)
Average snowfall inches (cm)4.9
(12)
3.9
(9.9)
4.9
(12)
1.1
(2.8)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.4
(1.0)
1.8
(4.6)
4.1
(10)
21.1
(54)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)3.54.86.57.18.98.98.28.05.76.14.54.676.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)3.42.82.30.6000000.21.23.213.7
Average relative humidity (%)65.964.560.557.562.559.955.258.461.958.264.366.661.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours 207.2201.6241.1270.0297.6332.9357.8319.0267.6248.8192.9189.23,125.7
Percent possible sunshine 67676568687580767271636370
Source: National Weather Service (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990) [24] [25] [26]

See also

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St. Louis is located at 38°38′53″N90°12′44″W.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate of California</span> Overview of the climate of the U.S. state of California

The climate of California varies widely from hot desert to alpine tundra, depending on latitude, elevation, and proximity to the Pacific Coast. California's coastal regions, the Sierra Nevada foothills, and much of the Central Valley have a Mediterranean climate, with warmer, drier weather in summer and cooler, wetter weather in winter. The influence of the ocean generally moderates temperature extremes, creating warmer winters and substantially cooler summers in coastal areas.

The climate of San Diego, California is classified as a Mediterranean climate. The basic climate features hot, sunny, and dry summers, and cooler, wetter winters. However, San Diego is much more arid than typical Mediterranean climates, and winters are still dry compared with most other zones with this type of climate. The climate at San Diego International Airport, the location for official weather reports for San Diego, as well as the climate at most beach areas, straddles the border between BSh and BSk due to the mild winters and cool summers in these locations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate of North Dakota</span>

North Dakota's climate is typical of a continental climate with cold winters and warm-hot summers. The state's location in the Upper Midwest allows it to experience some of the widest variety of weather in the United States, and each of the four seasons has its own distinct characteristics. The eastern half of the state has a humid continental climate with warm to hot, somewhat humid summers and cold, windy winters, while the western half has a semi-arid climate with less precipitation and less humidity but similar temperature profiles. The areas east of the Missouri River get slightly colder winters, while those west of the stream get higher summer daytime temperatures. In general, the diurnal temperature difference is prone to be more significant in the west due to higher elevation and less humidity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate of Pennsylvania</span> Overview of the climate of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania

The climate of Pennsylvania is diverse due to the multitude of geographic features found within the state. Straddling two major climate zones, the southeastern corner of Pennsylvania has the warmest climate. A portion of Greater Philadelphia lies at the southernmost tip of the humid continental climate zone, with the city proper being in the humid subtropical climate zone. Still, Philadelphia features colder, snowier winters than most locations with a humid subtropical climate. Moving west toward the mountainous interior of the state, the climate becomes markedly colder, the number of cloudy days increases, and winter snowfall amounts are greater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Oklahoma</span>

The Geography of Oklahoma encompasses terrain and ecosystems ranging from arid plains to subtropical forests and mountains. Oklahoma contains 10 distinct ecological regions, more per square mile than in any other state by a wide margin. It is situated in the Great Plains and U.S. Interior Highlands region near the geographical center of the 48 contiguous states. Usually considered part of the South Central United States, Oklahoma is bounded on the east by Arkansas and Missouri, on the north by Kansas, on the northwest by Colorado, on the far west by New Mexico, and on the south and near-west by Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Wyoming</span> Overview of the Geography of Wyoming

The U.S. state of Wyoming lies in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States and has a varied geography. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to the south. Wyoming is the least populous U.S. state and has the second-lowest population density behind Alaska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Connecticut</span> Overview of the Geography of Connecticut

The U.S. state of Connecticut is bordered on the south by Long Island Sound, on the west by New York, on the north by Massachusetts, and on the east by Rhode Island. The state capital and fourth largest city is Hartford, and other major cities and towns include Bridgeport, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, Norwalk, Danbury, New Britain, Greenwich, and Bristol. There are 169 incorporated towns in Connecticut, with cities and villages included within some towns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate of New York (state)</span> Overview of the climate of the U.S. state of New York

The climate of New York (state) is generally humid continental, while the extreme southeastern portion of the state lies in the warmer humid subtropical climate zone. Winter temperatures average below freezing during January and February in much of the state of New York, but several degrees above freezing along the Atlantic coastline, including New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate of Los Angeles</span> Overview of the climate of Los Angeles

The climate of Los Angeles is mild to hot year-round, and mostly dry. It is classified as a Mediterranean climate, which is a type of dry subtropical climate. It is characterized by seasonal changes in rainfall—with a dry summer and a winter rainy season. Under the modified Köppen climate classification, the coastal areas are classified as Csb, and the inland areas as Csa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate of Miami</span> Overview of the climate of Miami

The climate of Miami is classified as having a tropical monsoon climate with hot and humid summers; short, warm winters; and a marked drier season in the winter. Its sea-level elevation, coastal location, position just above the Tropic of Cancer, and proximity to the Gulf Stream shape its climate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate of New Jersey</span> Overview of the climate of the U.S. state of New Jersey

The climate of New Jersey classification of the U.S. state of New Jersey is humid subtropical in South Jersey with a humid continental climate in North Jersey, particularly in the northwestern area of the state. The northwest part of New Jersey is the snowiest due to the higher elevations that earn it a Dfb classification. During the winters, New Jersey can experience Nor'easters, which are snowstorms that affect the Northeastern United States, and Atlantic Canada. However, many would-be snow events in the state end up turning to rain due to warm ocean air being brought in by the storm. New Jersey's climate is shaped by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean which provides moisture and moderates temperatures. According to climatology research by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, New Jersey has been the fastest-warming state by average air temperature over a 100-year period beginning in the early 20th century, related to global warming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate of New England</span> Overview of the climate of New England

The climate of New England varies greatly across its 500-mile (800 km) span from northern Maine to southern Connecticut.

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  1. 1981−2010 normals, extremes 1887−present. Official records for Topeka kept at the Weather Bureau Office from June 1887 to July 1946, and at Philip Billard Municipal Airport since August 1946. For more information, see Threadex
  2. 1981–2010 normals. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010. Extremes 1874-present.