SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A stretch of warm, quiet fall weather is taking hold across the Ozarks this weekend, with highs soaring into the low to mid-80s and little to no rain expected. The National Weather Service in Springfield reports that the region will remain locked in a dry and above-normal temperature pattern through early next week.
According to the National Weather Service, Saturday’s highs will reach 75 to 83 degrees, followed by a warmer Sunday peaking near 86. Overnight lows will stay mild, mostly in the 50s and lower 60s, under clear skies. This extended dryness—paired with persistent warmth—may increase the risk of grass fires, particularly where vegetation has dried out from limited rainfall over the past month.
Local emergency managers urge residents to use caution with outdoor burning and equipment that can spark fires. Motorists along I-44 and Highway 65 should remain alert for smoke near rural areas if grass fires occur. Gardeners and farmers may also need to irrigate as soil moisture continues to drop.
NWS forecasters say the warm pattern is expected to persist into next week, with afternoon highs staying 8 to 12 degrees above seasonal averages. Cooler air may not return until the middle or latter part of next week as a weak front approaches from the Plains.
