Jefferson City, MO – Missouri will experience its first significant blast of Arctic air this season as frigid temperatures and gusty winds move in beginning Saturday, November 30, lasting through the first week of December.
According to the National Weather Service, a strong Arctic front pushing south from Canada will plunge the Midwest into a deep freeze. The Climate Prediction Center projects a 70–80% chance of below-normal temperatures across the state, with wind chills expected to dip below zero in northern Missouri and into the single digits elsewhere.
Drivers traveling along I-70 and I-44 should expect potentially icy roads and reduced visibility as temperatures fall sharply Sunday into Monday. The Missouri Department of Transportation warns that untreated roads could refreeze overnight, especially in hilly and shaded areas.
This Arctic surge signals the beginning of a longer cold pattern that may persist into mid-December, with frigid air stretching from the Plains to the Great Lakes. While the northern U.S. braces for extreme cold, southern states are forecast to stay relatively mild, creating a strong temperature contrast across the country.
Residents are urged to prepare vehicles for winter conditions, check heating systems, and take precautions to protect pets and exposed pipes as the Arctic blast settles in.
