St. Louis, MO – Travelers across Missouri may encounter a wetter and potentially wintry pattern during the Thanksgiving travel window, as new federal long-range forecasts show above-normal precipitation statewide from November 23 through November 29.
According to the Climate Prediction Center’s 8–14 Day Outlook issued Saturday, Missouri is positioned within a 40–50% probability zone favoring wetter-than-normal conditions. The state sits just southeast of a developing early-season cold pool across the central and northern Plains, a setup that has historically produced impactful late-November travel weather.
Northern Missouri—including Maryville, Kirksville, and the U.S. 36 corridor—sits closest to the colder air and may have the best chance for mixed precipitation or wet snow if systems track favorably.
Central Missouri, including Columbia and Jefferson City, lies squarely in the above-normal precipitation zone. Temperature swings could determine whether upcoming systems bring periods of cold rain, slushy mix, or early-season snowflakes.
Farther south, cities such as Springfield, Joplin, and West Plains remain in the wetter-than-normal pattern as well, though warmer temperatures favor rain more consistently. Still, the pattern’s timing—directly during peak holiday travel—could lead to slowed traffic even without accumulating snowfall.
St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri’s two largest metros, sit near the dividing line where rain–snow type shifts depend heavily on the arrival of colder air. Both metro areas historically experience Thanksgiving travel impacts when moisture and marginal temperatures align.
Forecasters stress that specific snowfall details and precise timing will become clearer early next week as short-range models begin resolving individual storm systems. For now, travelers should plan for the potential of wet, slow-moving travel conditions statewide.
