textproduct: Springfield

KEY MESSAGES

- A Heat Advisory is in effect for the entire area through Saturday. Highs in the 90s to near 100 with heat index values of around 100 to 105 can be expected. Overnight lows will only drop into the 70s. Several daily records may be tied or broken. - Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will occur mainly east of Highway 65 this afternoon and again on Thursday afternoon.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 240 PM CDT Wed Sep 16 2026

The upper level ridge of high pressure remains over the area along with the hot air mass early this afternoon. The ridge and hot conditions will remain over the area through the rest of the week. Highs will continue to warm into the middle 90s to near 100 today and again on Thursday. Lows will only cool into the 70s. There will be the potential for some record high temperatures this week, please see the climate section below for more record temperature information from around the area. Heat Index values around 100 to 105 will also occur today through the rest of the week into the weekend. A Heat Advisory is in effect areawide today through Saturday.

Scattered showers and isolated storms have developed across portions of the eastern Missouri Ozarks this afternoon as instability has increased and the cap has weakened with the heating of the day. This scattered activity will continue to develop and slowly move east this afternoon dissipating early this evening, mainly occurring east of Highway 65. Deep layer shear is weak with the upper level high over the region. MLCAPE values of 1500-2500 J/kg are in place east of Highway 65. This activity is/will continue to be pulse in nature. Precipitable water values are around 1.75-2" and storm motions are slow, so heavy downpours can be expected with these showers and storms but will be brief for any given location and very localized as this activity is not widespread. The severe risk is overall low but a strong storm or two with wind gusts up to 40 to 50 mph could be possible, but lightning and heavy downpours will be the risk with most of the storms that are able to develop today.

Isolated pulse type showers and storms will once again be possible on Thursday afternoon/early evening. Coverage should be less tomorrow than what is occurring today; therefore, most locations will likely remain dry on Thursday.

LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 240 PM CDT Wed Sep 16 2026

The upper level ridge will remain over the area Friday into the weekend before starting to flatten some later this week. Highs will continue to warm into the middle 90s to near 100 degrees again Friday and Saturday, and possible again on Sunday, especially across the southern portions of the area. A slightly drier air mass will start to move into the area late week, so dew points may be slightly lower, but heat index values around 100 degrees are expected through at least Saturday. A Heat Advisory is in effect for the entire area through 8 PM Saturday.

An upper level trough will move south into the Plains late this weekend then will move northeast into the Great Lakes region early next week. The trough will flatten the ridge some and send a front south into the area later Saturday into Sunday. Shower and storm chances (30-70%) will occur Saturday evening into Sunday with the best chances across the northern portions of the area closer to the upper level trough. With the upper level support remaining more to the north, rainfall amounts will likely decrease to the southeast and not all locations could be impacted by rain--especially further south.

A cooler air mass will move into portions of the area late this weekend into early next week. Highs are expected to range from around 80 across the north portions of the area to around 90 across southern Missouri early next week as the upper level trough and cooler temps remain north of the area.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1222 AM CDT Thu Sep 17 2026

VFR conditions expected through the period. SE-SW winds under 10kts become light and variable after 18Z. Skies start clear with developing Cu in the afternoon, both in form of typical fair-weather and potentially small pulse thunderstorms roughly along the I-44 corridor. This potential is low, and coverage will be sparse.

CLIMATE

Issued at 235 PM CDT Wed Sep 16 2026

Record High Temperatures:

September 16: KSGF: 95/1980 KJLN: 98/1954 KVIH: 96/1954 KUNO: 99/1980

September 17: KSGF: 96/1953 KJLN: 95/1953 KVIH: 97/1953 KUNO: 97/1953

September 18: KSGF: 95/2019 KJLN: 97/2022 KVIH: 95/1953 KUNO: 96/1972

September 19: KSGF: 96/1954 KJLN: 99/2024 KUNO: 97/1954

September 20: KSGF: 97/1954 KVIH: 95/1954 KUNO: 97/1954

September 21: KUNO: 95/1955

Record High Minimum Temperatures:

September 16: KSGF: 73/1927

September 17: KSGF: 73/1978

September 18: KSGF: 74/1931

September 19: KSGF: 73/1931

September 20: KSGF: 74/2018

September 21: KSGF: 73/1931

September 22: KSGF: 70/2017

SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

KS...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Saturday for KSZ073-097-101. MO...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Saturday for MOZ055>058-066>071- 077>083-088>098-101>106.