textproduct: Springfield

KEY MESSAGES

- Record high temperatures possible today through Sunday.

- Elevated fire weather concerns through the weekend.

- No widespread rain chances through the period. Very limited areas with less than 15% rain chances early next week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 210 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

The Ozarks are starting astronomical spring with a bang today. High temperatures are expected to soar into the upper 80s to near 90 degrees in some areas, with 850 mb temperatures around 18 degrees C. This is thanks to a very deep high pressure that has taken up residence in the four corners region of the southwest U.S. and shows no signs of moving very much until early next week. It is bringing us sunny skies and gentle southwest flow today and tomorrow. The caveat to this nice weather is the lack of moisture, as minimum afternoon relative humidity values of 20-30% each day through the weekend will result in elevated fire danger. Thankfully, winds look to stay light enough to avoid Red Flag conditions, at least through Saturday. Models have consistently struggled to keep up with both the near-record heat and the low dewpoints, so frequent manual adjustments to the forecast will be made as needed, especially for those with fire weather interests.

Despite clear skies and light winds tonight, overnight lows will barely cool into the 50s. Saturday looks to be warmest day of the forecast period, with temperatures reaching around 90 area-wide. This is around 30 degrees above normal.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 210 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

A frontal passage is progged for Sunday as a low digging in the east joins forces with a high in the High Plains. This front will kick temperatures down to near-normal, but not before we reach highs in the upper 80s yet again Sunday. Moisture looks too limited for mentionable precipitation, though the SPC has included the southeastern half of the CWA in a "general thunder" risk Sunday evening for any isolated activity. Precipitation appears very unlikely at this time, but we will monitor moisture trends in case expectations change before Sunday.

Post-frontal northerly flow Monday will limit highs to the 60s, much closer to normal. However, a high pressure center scooting by to the north will quickly return us to southerly flow again by Tuesday, with more upper-level ridging building in to sustain another warming trend. The warmth begins to creep into the west Tuesday with some highs up into the 70s while the eastern CWA remains in the low 60s. By Thursday, we're back in the 80s.

Long range models indicate another frontal passage late week that might provide another respite from the heat along with the potential for widespread rain.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 554 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

Some lower visibilities will be possible in the KJLN area this evening. Otherwise VFR conditions are expected with high level clouds and southwesterly winds tonight through the day on Saturday.

CLIMATE

Issued at 210 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

Record High Temperatures:

March 20: KSGF: 92/1907 KVIH: 83/2017 KUNO: 89/2017

March 21: KSGF: 88/1916 KJLN: 91/1907 KVIH: 85/1904 KUNO: 79/2011

March 22: KSGF: 88/1907 KJLN: 90/1995 KVIH: 78/1904 KUNO: 85/1997

SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

KS...None. MO...None.