The Ozarks wake under a frosty 32°F start, the air still and crisp under a pale predawn sky. But this early chill belies what’s coming — a brief burst of December warmth before winter’s next cold push rolls in from the Plains later this week.
According to the National Weather Service in Springfield, mild southwest breezes will lift highs into the mid-50s by this afternoon, a trend that continues through midweek. Sunshine dominates through Wednesday, with highs near 50°F — ideal for errands, travel, or last-minute outdoor projects before a Friday cooldown returns the region to true December form.
By Thursday, expect clouds to increase slightly with highs still in the 50s, but the change will come quickly after sunset. A northwest wind shift will usher in colder, drier air — dropping overnight lows into the upper 20s to near 20°F by Friday night. Patchy frost and even black ice on bridges and shaded roads could be a factor early Saturday morning.
The weekend ahead stays dry but much colder, with highs struggling to reach the upper 30s to low 40s across the Ozarks. The pattern fits a broader trend across the Midwest — a December temperature whiplash ahead of what could become a snowier stretch mid-month as Arctic air deepens to the north.
Five-Day Outlook (Springfield, MO)
- Tuesday: Sunny, high 56°F, low 41°F.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, high 50°F, low 30°F.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, high 54°F, low 32°F.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, high 45°F, low 19°F.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, high 38°F.
