St. Louis, Missouri – A noticeable late-winter warm-up is taking shape across Missouri and Illinois, bringing a break from recent cold and setting up a calmer stretch of weather across the central Midwest. Temperatures are expected to trend above normal, improving travel conditions and slowly melting lingering snow and ice in many communities.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, the mid-February outlook favors above-normal temperatures across much of the Midwest, including both Missouri and Illinois. The strongest signal is centered from the Plains into the Mississippi Valley, placing the region firmly within a milder-than-average pattern through the middle of the month.
In eastern Missouri and western Illinois, including the St. Louis metro area, daytime highs are expected to climb into the 40s and 50s, easing daytime ice concerns and improving conditions along major routes such as Interstates 70, 64, and 55. Central Missouri cities like Columbia and Jefferson City should also see a steady run of mild afternoons.
Across Illinois, including Springfield, Peoria, and the Metro East, temperatures are expected to run several degrees above typical February levels. Northern Illinois warms more gradually but avoids prolonged cold during this stretch.
Despite the warming trend, the pattern remains dry. No organized rain or winter weather systems are evident, keeping travel disruptions minimal but limiting new moisture.
Overnight refreezing remains possible, especially on untreated surfaces. Additional outlooks will determine whether the mild pattern holds deeper into February or if colder air returns later in the month.
