Missouri enjoys a continental climate, but with substantial local and regional variation. The average annual temperature is 50°F (10°C) in the northwest, but in the southeast the temperature rises to 60°F (16°C). Kansas City has a normal daily mean temperature of 54°F (12°C), ranging from 26°F (–3°C) in January to 79°F (26°C) in July.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in Missouri was –40°F (–40°C) at Warsaw on 13 February 1905. Heat waves are also not uncommon in Missouri. A heat wave in 1980 resulted in 311 heat-related deaths while another heat wave in 1983 caused death for more than fifty people.

The average annual precipitation for Kansas City (1971–2000) was 40 in (100 cm), with some rain or snow falling about 110 days a year. During the winter, northwest winds prevail. The air movement is largely from the south and southeast during the rest of the year. Tornadoes are common during spring.