Missouri starts the morning under muted skies, where damp air clings to pavement and headlights glow softly.
Patchy drizzle and fog settle across the Ozarks, setting a cautious tone for early Christmas Eve travel around Springfield.
The National Weather Service flags a limited fog risk this morning, with areas of dense fog possible into mid-morning. Visibility may drop quickly in pockets, especially along rural highways and low-lying stretches. A slight drizzle chance adds slick spots to untreated roads.
Drivers should slow down and stay alert. Use headlights in fog and allow extra space between vehicles, especially during early holiday errands.
Once fog thins, conditions improve quickly. Sunshine breaks through later today, pushing temperatures into the mid-70s, far above normal for late December. The warm, dry pattern continues into Christmas Day, with mostly sunny skies and highs near 74 degrees.
Thursday night remains mild, followed by a sunny Friday with highs in the low 70s. By Saturday, December 27, post-Christmas travel looks favorable, with partly sunny skies and highs around 75 degrees. Roads stay dry, and visibility improves throughout the day.
Meteorologists are watching a late-week pattern shift. A stronger cold front arrives late in the weekend, knocking temperatures down sharply by Sunday. Gusty winds and colder air will signal a more typical winter feel heading into the final days of December.
While snow is not expected locally, travelers returning home should remain alert for changing conditions across the region, especially north of Missouri where winter weather becomes more active.
Five-Day Outlook – Springfield, MO
• Today: Patchy fog early, then partly sunny, high near 74°
• Christmas Day: Mostly sunny, high near 74°
• Thursday: Partly cloudy, low near 61°
• Friday: Sunny, high near 72°
• Saturday: Partly sunny, high near 75°
