Missouri — A cool, gray veil clings to the Ozarks this Saturday morning as pockets of mist drift across low fields near Highway 65. The pavement looks damp and slightly reflective, hinting at the heavier rain still lining up for the region just days before the Thanksgiving travel surge.
According to the National Weather Service Springfield office, fog will lift by midmorning, but travelers should stay alert for quick visibility drops east of the city. Anyone driving early holiday routes along I-44, Highway 65, or Route 60 should plan extra time. Wet pavement and patchy fog often tighten traffic flow in Greene, Christian, and Webster Counties. Airport travelers also may face minor delays as humidity holds stubbornly near the surface.
According to meteorologists, widespread moderate to heavy rain arrives Wednesday night through Friday. Showers and thunderstorms sweep in from the south, fueled by deepening moisture and a persistent warm sector. While severe storms are not expected, multiple rounds of heavy rain could still create localized flooding, especially in low-lying pockets of the Missouri Ozarks and extreme southeast Kansas. Models hint at repeated rainfall bands that may slow both regional traffic and long-haul Thanksgiving travel.
Thursday stays stormy, with soaking rainfall likely and gusty south winds pushing highs into the mid-60s. Friday remains unsettled, though rain coverage gradually tapers from west to east later in the day. This stretch may challenge anyone heading toward St. Louis, Tulsa, or northwest Arkansas. To be fair, Saturday offers the best window. Sunshine returns, winds ease, and highs reach the lower 60s — ideal for grocery trips, outdoor prep, or staging travel ahead of the main Thanksgiving rush.
For now, Springfield heads into a classic November pattern: fog early, heavy rain building, and a brief calm just in time for the holiday week.
Five-Day Forecast for Springfield, MO
Sat: 61/44 – Partly sunny; best travel window.
Sun: 61/44 – Mild, partly cloudy.
Mon: 48/40 – Chance showers; cooler.
Tue: 57/43 – Chance showers; breezy.
Wed: 68/54 – Showers, fog early; holiday travel delays possible.
