Missouri – The air in Springfield cuts crisp and clear under a pale morning sky, temperatures stuck near 24°F as December sunlight glints off rooftops and frosted lawns. The cold start marks another step in the Ozarks’ winter transition, though a warmer, calmer stretch is waiting just ahead.
According to the National Weather Service in Springfield, residents will see a steady temperature climb through the weekend. Sunshine dominates through Saturday, bringing highs near 48–50°F, while winds remain light out of the southwest. Morning frost remains a concern early each day, with lows in the low 20s and patchy fog forming before sunrise — especially across rural highways like Route 60 and I-44.
By Sunday, clouds will mix with filtered sun and highs will settle around 43°F, still seasonable for early December. Roads stay dry through the weekend, but shaded areas and bridge decks could turn slick at dawn where dew refreezes. Drivers heading toward Branson or Lebanon should plan for reduced visibility in fog and a few icy patches through early morning hours.
Monday brings a return to mostly sunny skies and a high near 42°F, followed by a midweek warm-up into the low 50s. The mild trend could hold briefly before another Arctic front dips south later next week, part of a larger pattern forming across the northern Plains and Midwest between Dec. 11–17 — a potential travel concern for the pre-holiday rush.
For now, keep jackets close and windshields scraped — winter’s tease isn’t over yet.
How’s the frost in your neighborhood this morning? Let us know.
Five-Day Outlook for Springfield, MO:
Fri: 48/30 – Sunny; cold start, mild afternoon.
Sat: 50/34 – Mostly sunny; calm winds.
Sun: 43/20 – Partly cloudy; seasonable chill.
Mon: 42/29 – Mostly sunny; crisp breeze.
Tue: 54/34 – Warmer, pleasant midweek stretch.
