Merry Christmas, everyone! I’ve got my fingers crossed that this impressive warm-up is enough to land me on Santa’s nice list.
Record highs were broken again today across the Ozarks, with temperatures soaring into the lower to mid-70s. Springfield, Joplin, West Plains, and Rolla all set new daily records. And fortunately for warm-weather fans, this heat isn’t going anywhere just yet.
Christmas Day will be just as warm as today, if not a degree or two warmer. The record to beat tomorrow is 74 degrees, a mark that has stood for 136 years.
This unusually mild December air will linger through Friday and Saturday, resulting in five consecutive days with highs in the 70s. To my knowledge, that has never happened before in December. But the streak comes to an abrupt end on Sunday.
A cold front is expected to move through around midday Sunday, sending temperatures tumbling by the afternoon. This system will also bring our next chance for rain.
The exact timing and rainfall totals remain uncertain, as forecast models are still showing some disagreement. However, current guidance suggests precipitation amounts will likely be on the lighter side…