Missouri – A calm, cool start greets Springfield as the first day of 2026 settles in. Clear skies early allowed temperatures to dip, leaving cars cool to the touch and lawns lightly damp under the winter air.
Readings hover near 42 degrees this morning at Springfield-Branson National Airport. A light west breeze keeps conditions comfortable, though it still feels crisp in shaded areas. Clouds increase through the day, but temperatures respond quickly, climbing into the upper 50s by afternoon. It’s a mild New Year’s Day by Ozarks standards.
Road conditions across U.S. 60, I-44, and city streets remain dry and travel-friendly. Early drivers may notice brief cool spots on bridges, but widespread slick travel is not expected. Still, winter patterns demand awareness during early hours.
Tonight cools again, with lows dipping near 40 degrees. Cloud cover limits frost potential, but the air turns noticeably cooler by late evening. Any late travel remains quiet and uneventful.
Friday continues the mild trend. Highs reach the mid-50s under mostly cloudy skies. Winds stay light, making outdoor errands manageable. By Saturday, sunshine returns more confidently, pushing highs near 50 degrees. Sunday warms further, with mid-50s expected under mostly sunny skies.
Meteorologists say this warming pattern fits a broader early-2026 trend across the Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley. While true winter cold stays north for now, colder mornings remain possible later this month.
Looking ahead, early next week turns unseasonably warm. Highs may climb into the 60s by Monday, a sharp contrast to recent winter mornings.
Five Day Outlook for Springfield, MO
• New Year’s Day: Increasing clouds, high near 57
• Friday: Mostly cloudy, high near 54
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, high near 50
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, high near 55
• Monday: Mostly sunny, high near 68
