Here we are, now just days before Christmas. There was a bit more chill in the air today, but afternoon readings were still above normal, topping out in the 50s. Averages are reaching their bottoms as we officially start the winter season. But this week will be anything but average. It’s a Christmas week that will likely go down as the warmest on record across the Ozarks.
The setup features a jet stream pattern that will flow near and north of the U.S. border. Mild, Pacific air will flood the Lower 48, and Gulf moisture will stream north for days.
This will result in increasingly warm and humid conditions as we approach Christmas. The increasing humidity will likely lead to periods of low cloudiness that we’ll first notice on Monday.
Clouds will move in near and shortly after sunrise, slowly clearing out during the afternoon. Temperatures will climb into the upper 50s and low 60s, a nice December day, but we’re set to go much higher.
Look for additional rounds of clouds on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a tendency for more sunshine during the afternoon. Humidity levels will be noticeably higher by Christmas Eve, with morning lows and afternoon highs steadily warming.
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Near record highs will be on the table Tuesday, with the odds for near record highs very high Christmas Eve through Saturday of this upcoming weekend. The overnights will also become increasingly warm, with record high lows also possible through the same stretch.
Santa will likely ride in on breezy southwest winds and temperatures in the 60s. Christmas Day will be warm, humid, and windy.
The weather we’re looking at for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is extremely rare, more rare than a white Christmas. And, the duration and extent of the warmth over the course of the Christmas holidays are unprecedented…