KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The fall season is rapidly approaching, bringing shorter days, cooler weather and good football to the Kansas City metro.
But when will it actually start to feel like fall consistently? And what dates should you take note of when making your autumn calendar? Well, here’s everything you need to know:
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Time Changes
Last 8 p.m. sunset
Starting Monday night, residents throughout the metro will experience their last 8 p.m. sunset until spring 2026. By Tuesday, the sun will start to go down at 7:58 p.m. and then continue pushing back until we see the time change throughout the United States.
We are one day behind compared to last year, with the last 8 p.m. sunset of 2025 having been on Aug. 23.
Daylight savings ends
Sunday, Nov. 2, will officially mark the end of the “spring forward” clock. Starting a 2 a.m., people across the U.S. will gain an extra hour, leaving more light in the morning and less light in the evening.
When will the earliest sunset be?
In 2025, the earliest sunsets began at 4:55 p.m. and were documented between Dec. 1-11. This year, we are on track for the same earliest time; however, the dates will be shifted to Dec. 2-12.
About nine days later, Kansas Citians will also experience the shortest day of the year, also known as the winter solstice, on Sunday, Dec. 21. This will be 5 hours and 30 minutes shorter than the summer solstice.
See the latest forecast, maps and radar for Kansas City
Fall Colors
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Fall Color Forecast (MDC), Missourians are able to enjoy a fall color season for about 6-8 weeks, with the peak fall colors appearing around mid-October.
However, some trees start changing as early as mid-September, including Sassafras, sumacs and Virginia creepers. By late September, black gums, bittersweets, and dogwoods will start changing.
If you want to see the prettiest colors across the state, the MDC recommends visiting these places:
For spectacular vistas, choose routes along rivers with views of forested bluffs, and along ridges with sweeping scenes of forested landscapes.
On a smaller scale, drive on back roads, hike, or take a float trip under a colorful forest canopy on a clear, blue-sky day. Visit MDC Conservation Areas and Missouri State Parks.
Even treeless areas, such as prairies and roadsides, display beautiful shades of gold, copper, purple, olive, and auburn with autumn wildflowers, shrubs, and curing, rustling grasses.
If you can’t get out of town, enjoy places with mature trees, such as older neighborhoods, parks, and even cemeteries.
At this time, the official fall color reports have not been released. However, the MDC said it will start releasing details for Kansas City region, along with the other regions across Missouri, in mid-September.
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Dropping Temperatures
When does the average temperature fall below 80 degrees?
Even though the forecast feels like fall already, the Kansas City metro (and the Midwest, in general) is known for its ever-fluctuating temperatures.
So, despite this week’s predicted lows in the 50s and highs in the mid-70s to low-80s, we may still experience random summer-like temperatures throughout the fall season.
On average, though, the National Weather Service says the Kansas City metro tends to hit average below-80 temperatures around mid-September — Sept. 16, to be exact.
The last 80-degree day in 2024, according to Time and Date, was Oct. 30. So, don’t be surprised if we see random temperature spikes leading up to the holiday season.
When is the first frost?
Based on climate data from 1991 to 2020 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average first frost is around Oct. 12.
The last spring frost recorded in 2025 was on April 10, meaning the Kansas City metro will have nearly 6 months of frost-free weather.
The average fall freeze dates tend to begin on Oct. 28, while the spring frost dates begin on April 16, the NWS reported.
According to the NOAA, the first frost typically happens when overnight temperatures drop to 36 degrees or below.
Now that you are aware of the many signs indicating fall is right around the corner in Kansas City, you can start planning and preparing for all the fun that the upcoming season has to offer here in the metro.
Click here to check out all the fall festivals and seasonal events coming to KC.
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