MISSOURI — A powerful Arctic air mass is forecast to plunge into the central United States next weekend, pushing temperatures across Missouri to 25 to 35 degrees below seasonal averages. New forecast guidance and anomaly maps show the state positioned directly beneath one of the deepest cold pools projected anywhere in the country.
Missouri Positioned in the Core of the Coldest Air
According to national weather models, the upcoming pattern shift will allow a strong ridge in the West to displace frigid polar air into the Midwest. Missouri sits squarely in the central corridor of this cold surge, where temperature departures are expected to be among the most extreme.
Maps from Pivotal Weather highlight broad purple and magenta shading over Missouri—indicating anomalies that could exceed –25°F to –30°F during the height of the outbreak. Major cities such as Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, and Columbia may experience some of their coldest mid-December readings in recent years.
Atmospheric Drivers Behind the Event
Meteorologists point to several large-scale factors contributing to Missouri’s heightened risk:
- Deep upper-level trough digging into the Midwest
- Strong Arctic high pressure pressing southward from Canada
- Persistent northerly flow maintaining below-freezing air
- Enhanced cold advection as the jet stream dips sharply
These combined elements allow cold, dense air to spill rapidly into Missouri, creating conditions for a widespread and prolonged temperature drop.
What Missourians Should Expect
The event’s impacts may include:
- Dangerously low wind chills, especially overnight
- Stress on heating systems and elevated utility demand
- Increased risk of frozen pipes, particularly in older homes
- Potential livestock and agricultural concerns
- Light winter precipitation, if moisture aligns with the cold air
While heavy snow is not guaranteed, any passing disturbances could produce brief bursts of light snow or flurries across parts of the state.
Duration and Trend of the Arctic Pattern
Model ensembles suggest the frigid temperatures will not immediately lift. Missouri may remain colder than average through the middle of next week as reinforcing shots of cold air descend behind the initial surge.
Forecasters emphasize that while minor fluctuations are possible, the overall signal for significantly colder-than-normal conditions remains very strong for Missouri and much of the central U.S…