Kansas salt Hutchinson's salt mine has run continuously since 1923, about 650 feet downFreeze-thaw Topeka averages about 86 freeze-thaw days a year; Wichita about 80NOAA normal Wichita averages only about 12.7 inches of snow a seasonKDOT KDOT says brine can cut salt use by up to 75%Est. treated salt Pre-treated bulk salt usually runs $20–$50 a ton over plain rock saltEst. salt brine Salt brine by the gallon: roughly $0.20–$0.40, before deliveryEst. bagged rock salt Pallet of 49 × 50 lb rock salt bags: roughly $240–$330Est. ice melt pallet Pallet of 49 × 50 lb blended ice melt: roughly $430–$600Rule of thumb Plain rock salt slows way down below about 15°F pavement temperatureFall pre-buy Lock in tons and pickup or delivery before the first storm, not during itKansas salt Hutchinson's salt mine has run continuously since 1923, about 650 feet downFreeze-thaw Topeka averages about 86 freeze-thaw days a year; Wichita about 80NOAA normal Wichita averages only about 12.7 inches of snow a seasonKDOT KDOT says brine can cut salt use by up to 75%Est. treated salt Pre-treated bulk salt usually runs $20–$50 a ton over plain rock saltEst. salt brine Salt brine by the gallon: roughly $0.20–$0.40, before deliveryEst. bagged rock salt Pallet of 49 × 50 lb rock salt bags: roughly $240–$330Est. ice melt pallet Pallet of 49 × 50 lb blended ice melt: roughly $430–$600Rule of thumb Plain rock salt slows way down below about 15°F pavement temperatureFall pre-buy Lock in tons and pickup or delivery before the first storm, not during it

Price figures are estimates from public bids and published price lists, not quotes. Where these numbers come from

Home › Snow & Ice Guide › How a Kansas winter unfolds

How a Kansas winter unfolds

Wichita and Topeka snowfall, freeze-thaw counts and the season month by month.

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An Eastern Kansas winter is an ice winter: modest snow, frequent freezing rain and a lot of freeze-thaw. Here's how a typical season tends to go. Any given year can differ.

Snowfall and freeze-thaw

Place	Average seasonal snowfall	Freeze-thaw days a year
Wichita	12.7 in	79.8
Topeka	17.1 in	85.9

Snowfall: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals.¹ Freeze-thaw days: our count of days with a high above 32°F and a low below 32°F in NOAA GHCN-Daily records, 1991–2020 average.²

The season, month by month

November: line up supply

First freezes. Pre-buy and fill your pile.

December: ice season starts

Freezing drizzle and glaze. Brine ahead if no rain comes first.

January to February: the core of winter

Coldest pavement, snow and ice storms. Treated salt and calcium on walks.

March: freeze-thaw

Warm days and cold nights.

Next in the guideStorm-readiness checklist →

Sources

Figures are quoted from the sources above. Conditions on your sites vary; follow product labels and your own calibration.