KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A fresh wave of Arctic air is preparing to slam into Missouri, ending a brief midweek warm-up and sending temperatures plummeting below zero in some northern counties by early Thursday. The National Weather Service in Kansas City warns that this will be the coldest air mass of the season so far, bringing dangerous wind chills and below-normal temperatures through the weekend.
After a modest climb into the mid-30s Tuesday and Wednesday, the next cold front arrives late Wednesday night, ushering in frigid air across Maryville, Kirksville, and Chillicothe, where lows could hit -5°F to -3°F by sunrise Thursday. Farther south, Kansas City and Sedalia will drop into the upper single digits, with highs struggling to reach the low 20s.
Meteorologists say the cold blast will linger through Friday, with highs only in the 20s and 30s statewide. Temperatures will slowly rebound into the mid-30s to near 40°F by the weekend, though early mornings will stay bitterly cold.
No major snow is expected with this system, but black ice and refreeze risks remain possible where light moisture lingers on roads and bridges. Wind chills could dip into the negative teens across northern Missouri Thursday morning, creating hazardous conditions for anyone outdoors or traveling before daylight.
