Springfield, Missouri – Drivers along I-44 and US-65 should prepare for rapidly changing conditions this weekend as fire danger spikes Friday and Saturday before rain and possible wintry precipitation move in by late Saturday night.
According to the National Weather Service in Springfield, southwest Missouri will see unseasonably warm temperatures between 70 and 79 degrees Friday and Saturday, combined with southwest wind gusts of 15 to 25 mph and relative humidity dropping as low as 20 percent. Those conditions significantly increase the risk of fast-moving grass fires, especially along and northwest of the I-44 corridor.
Fire officials urge residents to avoid outdoor burning, secure trailer chains, and properly discard cigarettes. Winds can push flames quickly across dry fields, threatening rural roads and property in Greene, Christian, and Polk counties.
By late Saturday night, attention shifts to a 70 to 80 percent chance of widespread precipitation across the region through Sunday night. Most of southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri will see rain, but areas north of I-44 could experience a mix of rain and light wintry precipitation if surface temperatures cool enough. Road temperatures will determine whether bridges and overpasses become slick early Sunday.
Looking ahead to early and mid-March, multiple rounds of rainfall could track through the Ozarks, raising concerns about localized flooding in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
Residents should monitor updates through Sunday night as temperature shifts could alter precipitation type, and additional advisories may be issued if fire or travel threats intensify.
