Springfield, Missouri – Golf ball-sized hail and wind gusts topping 60 mph could slam southern and central Missouri today, posing major risks along Highway 65.
According to the National Weather Service in Springfield, severe thunderstorms are expected to develop Friday afternoon, mainly east of Highway 65, impacting Springfield, West Plains, and surrounding counties. Storms may rapidly intensify, bringing damaging winds, isolated tornadoes, and hail up to the size of softballs. Residents are urged to secure loose objects, avoid unnecessary travel, and charge electronic devices in case of outages.
Thunderstorm coverage is expected to increase after 11 a.m. Friday, with the most intense storms likely between noon and 6 p.m. Winds could gust as high as 80 mph in some areas, particularly across Christian, Greene, and Laclede counties.
Spotter activation may be needed by late Friday as storms begin pushing through south-central Missouri.
Looking ahead, Saturday remains calm during daylight hours, but storms will return late Saturday night into early Sunday. The risk of heavy rainfall increases Sunday through Tuesday, with flash flooding possible in low-lying areas and poor drainage zones.
🌤 5-Day Forecast for Springfield, MO:
- Saturday: Sunny and calm. High near 79°F.
- Saturday Night: Thunderstorms likely after 10 p.m.
- Sunday: Storms continue, high near 81°F.
- Monday: Partly sunny with isolated storms. High of 84°F.
- Tuesday: Showers taper off, high near 75°F.
