Honestly, if you've lived in the Ozarks for more than a week, you know the drill. You check the weather 10 day forecast springfield mo and see a high of 54 degrees, only to find yourself scraping ice off your windshield forty-eight hours later. It's wild.
Right now, Springfield is caught in a classic January squeeze. As of Saturday, January 17, 2026, the temperature is sitting at a crisp 26°F. But that doesn't tell the whole story. With northwest winds kicking at 16 mph, the feels-like temperature is actually a biting 13°F. If you’re heading out to the Battlefield Mall or just grabbing coffee, that wind is going to cut right through a light jacket.
What the weather 10 day forecast springfield mo Actually Looks Like
The next few days are basically a roller coaster. We’re looking at some serious temperature swings that would make a thermometer dizzy.
Today (Saturday) we might see a high of 28°F, but it's going to bottom out at 11°F tonight. Clear skies are nice, but they don't hold any heat. Sunday is the "rebound" day—expect a high near 44°F. That sounds great until you realize the overnight wind chills Sunday night into Monday morning are forecast to dip back into the single digits, potentially as low as -5°F.
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The Mid-Week "Spring" Tease
By Tuesday and Wednesday, the pattern shifts. We’re looking at highs jumping into the mid-40s and even hitting 54°F by Wednesday afternoon. It’s that weird Missouri thing where you think spring is coming, but you know better. National Weather Service data shows this is slightly above the normal January high of 42°F, but don't go planting any flowers yet.
The back half of the 10-day stretch gets a bit murkier. Around Thursday and Friday (January 22-23), there’s a mess of moisture moving in. Some models are calling for a 30% chance of a "frozen mix" or snow by next weekend, specifically Saturday, January 24. Highs will likely crash back into the 20s or low 30s.
Why Springfield Weather is So Unpredictable
It isn't just bad luck. Springfield sits in a geographic sweet spot—or sour spot, depending on how you feel about snow. We are right in the path where dry, cold air from Canada smashes into moist, warm air from the Gulf of Mexico.
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The Ozark Plateau adds another layer of weirdness. Elevation changes can cause "micro-climates" where it’s snowing in Nixa but just raining in north Springfield.
- The Clipper Effect: We often get these "clipper" storms moving across the Great Lakes. They bring quick bursts of snow and gusty winds, exactly like what we're seeing this weekend.
- Dry Spells: Even with the snow chances, Springfield is actually in a bit of a dry phase. The Missouri Climate Center notes that January is typically one of our driest months, averaging only about 1.6 inches of precipitation.
- The Wind Factor: Because there are no mountains to the north to block the wind, those Canadian cold fronts hit us like a freight train.
Surviving the 10-Day Swing
Basically, your wardrobe needs to be as flexible as your weekend plans. Since we're looking at a 40-degree swing between Sunday morning and Wednesday afternoon, layering is the only way to survive.
If you are traveling along I-44 this week, keep an eye on those Saturday/Sunday shifts. Even a "dusting" of snow in the Ozarks can turn the overpasses into skating rinks because of how fast the ground temperature drops.
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Check your tire pressure too. These 10-day forecasts where temperatures fluctuate by 30 degrees overnight are notorious for triggering that annoying "low air" light on your dashboard.
Stick to the layers. Keep the ice scraper in the car even on the 54-degree days. The Ozarks aren't done with winter yet, no matter what that mid-week sunshine tries to tell you.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Prepare for Sunday Night: Ensure outdoor pets have insulated shelter as wind chills are expected to drop below 0°F.
- Monitor Wednesday Night: If you have sensitive plants in a greenhouse or sunroom, be ready for the transition from 54°F back down to freezing levels.
- Vehicle Check: Top off your windshield wiper fluid today; the salt and grit from Saturday's flurries will likely coat windshields as the roads dry out early next week.