In late July, the Ozarks get a certain kind of heat—not the dry, airy kind you get further west, but a heat that is thick, pressing, and impossible to get away from. This week, Springfield, Missouri is right in the middle of it, and the forecast doesn’t look like it will get any better. The high temperature on Monday is expected to reach 37°C, and there will be strong southwest winds in the morning that will change to calm winds in the afternoon. An Extreme Heat Warning has been sent out because it’s so hot, which is both scary and, to be honest, normal for this time of year.
By Sunday noon, it was already warmer than 35°C, and most people hadn’t even finished their afternoon coffee yet. There’s something unsettling about seeing the temperature rise toward the upper 30s while also being aware that the humidity is still there. Since the RealFeel index has been slightly higher than the body temperature, it means that the body is working harder than the numbers show. It’s the kind of heat that makes you not want to do anything outside after 10 a.m.
One thing that makes this stretch a little harder is the air quality. As of early Monday morning, Springfield’s air quality was considered poor. It wasn’t dangerous, but people with heart or breathing problems should spend less time outside. Extreme levels of dust and dander are being tracked, which is strange enough to be noticed. When you add in some grass pollen and tree pollen, allergy sufferers in the area are having a rough few days, even if they don’t go outside.
The next week will be a little cooler, but it will also bring some problems. The warmest point on Tuesday will be around 35°C, and there is a good chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Wednesday and Thursday will have more of the same pattern. It will be warm in the morning and build up in the afternoon, which is a common pattern in the Midwest and leads to fast-moving cells and short but sometimes intense storms. By Thursday night, it will be breezy, and late-night showers are expected. On Friday, there is a chance of heavy thunderstorms early in the morning, which could make the start of the weekend rough.
It looks like Saturday will be the busiest day of the long period. The chance of rain rises to 84%, the temperature drops to around 28°C, and the sky will be mostly cloudy with a few shower windows all day. If the storms don’t get too bad, this change might actually feel like relief for people in Springfield who have been melting in the heat dome all week. The Midwest as a whole is already on high alert for damaging winds through Tuesday. Springfield is close enough to the edges of these systems that conditions could change faster than a ten-day forecast would show.
Although it’s still not clear how much rain will fall in the area over the next few days, the pattern seems to be typical of late-July in Missouri: oppressive heat gives way to unsettled storm activity, followed by short periods of pleasant summer weather. By early August, the forecast looks a lot better. On Monday, August 3, there will be lots of sun and temperatures will drop back to the low 30s. It might even feel like bright sunshine on August 4th and 5th, but humidity is still in the picture.
After looking at everything, it seems like Springfield is having a week that is a little more intense than usual. It’s not terrible, but it’s noticeable. They warned of heat, bad air, and a lot of storms. It’s not a reason to panic. Just a friendly reminder that summer in the Ozarks has different layers, and this area of them needs some attention.
