Springfield, MO – A layer of gray clouds and a crisp 29°F start greet the Ozarks this morning, but change is already underway. By Tuesday afternoon, sunshine and 50° warmth return, giving residents a brief taste of fall before the next cold snap late week.
The National Weather Service in Springfield reports that skies will gradually clear through Monday, with a high near 43°F and light north winds calming by evening. By Tuesday, expect plenty of sun and highs near 57°F — roughly 25 degrees warmer than early-morning lows. That pattern holds through midweek with highs around 50°F Wednesday and calm winds, making it an ideal stretch for holiday errands, outdoor work, or travel along I-44.
Meteorologists caution, however, that colder air returns by Friday, sending highs back into the 30s and low 40s and lows into the upper teens. The sharp temperature shift could lead to patchy frost or black ice, especially on rural and elevated roads early Saturday.
While no major snow is in sight, long-range models hint at a developing storm track across the Midwest and Great Lakes between December 11–17, possibly ushering in the region’s first measurable winter system. Residents are advised to use this mild spell to prepare — check heating systems, wrap pipes, and finish outdoor tasks before winter tightens its grip again.
Clear skies now, but colder air waits just north — classic December whiplash weather for the Ozarks.
