Severe Thunderstorm Warning 2, NWS Springfield, MO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Springfield MO
856 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Gusty southerly winds will occur across the area today as
  gusts of 30 to 40 mph occur a times.

- Showers and thunderstorms will move across the area today.
  There is a Marginal Risk (1/5) for a few strong to severe
  storms this morning and afternoon, with damaging winds the
  main risk.

- Temperatures will cool to more seasonable normals in the 40s
  for the weekend.

&&

.MESOSCALE...
Issued at 856 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

A typical low CAPE/high shear setup is fueling an organized line
of thunderstorms across central Oklahoma this morning. An
impressive 55 to 60 kt 850 mb jet currently over Oklahoma will
nose into extreme southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri this
morning, which will provide ample low-level shear. RAP output
depicts between 50 to 60 kt of effective bulk shear along with
40 to 45 kt of 0-3 km shear. Instability has always been the
question mark for today, but mesoanalysis suggests anywhere
between 250 to 500 J/kg of surface-based CAPE, and current radar
returns show this has been sufficient to keep at least portions
of the line of storms balanced. In fact, there have already
been two radar-confirmed tornadoes across central Oklahoma
earlier this morning, along with several wind damage reports.
The environment will continue to be supportive of severe wind
gusts of 60 to 70 mph into far southwest Missouri, and at least
marginally supportive of a continued brief spin-up tornado
threat this morning. The threat may continue farther east, but
eventually these storms will outrun the best moisture.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 245 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

An upper level trough is currently lifting northeast across the
southern Plains early this morning. Surface low pressure is
developing across the central Plains ahead of the trough. The
upper level trough and the surface low will lift northeast
across the plains into northern Missouri today then off to the
northeast tonight.

The pressure gradient will tighten across the area today as the
surface low pressure lifts to the northeast. As this occurs
winds will increase across the area. Momentum transfer of winds
aloft to the surface supports wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph across
the area this mid morning into this afternoon. There is some
potential for a few gusts up to around 45 mph at times today,
but should be more isolated in nature and could be more tied to
convection.

Mild conditions are across the area currently as temperatures
are in the 50s to lower 60s early this morning. A drier air
mass was in place across the area on Wednesday afternoon and
evening. Moisture advection is starting to return to the area,
and will really start increase through the morning hours as the
southerly winds continue to increase.

A few scattered showers and maybe a storm will start to develop
and lift northeast through the area in the next hour or two
through sunrise, mainly west of Highway 65 if not west of I-49.
Coverage will be limited and most locations will remain dry
through sunrise.

Further to the southeast convection is starting to develop
ahead of the trough across the southern Plains early this
morning. As the trough and surface low continue to lift to the
northeast, the convection will also continue to develop and
increase in coverage and move northeast also. These showers and
a few storms will likely start to push into the western portions
of the area in 8 to 10 am time  range. This activity will then
continue to lift northeast this morning into this afternoon
hours. The better coverage will likely be along and north of
I-44 and could be more scattered south of I-44 and east of Hwy
65 for a time late this morning into this afternoon as the
better upper level support will be to the north. A cold front
will surge to the east this afternoon/early evening will catch
the convection across south central Missouri over the far
southeastern portions of the area if not east of the area
altogether. As this occurs, coverage in the convection could
increase into a narrow strongly forced line.

Deep layer shear is increasing across the area along with a low
level jet that will move through the region today. Instability
will remain on the weaker side but still some surface based
weak instability will occur. As a result showers and some storms
are expected to occur as the system lifts northeast through the
region. Given the strong wind fields in the lower levels of the
atmosphere so strong to severe wind gusts will be possible
today with the storms and heavier showers, even with the weak
instability. This risk will begin with the convection that
starts to move into the area in the 8 to 10 am timeframe through
the afternoon hours, and possible early evening across south
central MO if the activity lingers that long. The Storm
Prediction Center has the entire area in a Marginal Risk (1 out
5) for today again with the main risk scattered damaging winds
gusts. The weaker instability is the limiting factor. The
instability is weak but much of it is in the low levels of the
atmosphere. If any more organized line or line segments can
develop and become slightly shear dominant and have surges to
the east northeast there could be a low risk (2%) for a brief
tornado this morning into this afternoon.

The convection will move east through the area this morning and
afternoon and will occur longest across southeastern Kansas and
western Missouri. There could also be some scattered showers
this afternoon into this evening from west to east that can
develop until the cold front move through the entire area. Rainfall
amounts will be heaviest around southeastern Kansas and west
central Missouri where around one inch of rain fall will be
possible to one quarter inch or less across southern Missouri.
There could be localized amounts up to one and half inches
mainly across the northwestern portions of the area.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 245 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

Another upper level trough is currently digging south across
the west coast early this morning. The trough will continue to
dig south into the southwestern U.S. today and then start to
lift northeast tonight and move through the region later Friday
into Saturday. This trough may phase with the upper level trough
that will move through the region today as one long trough.
This will continue the front that will move through the area
later today to the southeast of the area. Moisture return would
then be more limited with preciptiation chances across the area
as the better chances will remain closer to the front southeast
of the area. Still there may be enough lift for some light
precipitation Friday evening night. Any precipitation should
start off as rain but some snowflakes could mix in before the
precipitation ends Saturday morning. No impacts are expected.
Cooler conditions will occur this weekend with highs in the 40s
on Saturday. Another upper level trough will move south through
the region Saturday night into Sunday. Again a dry air mass will
be in place so not expecting any measurable precipitation but a
few flurries cannot be ruled out. Highs will only warm into the
30s on Sunday behind this system.

Next week the ensemble model members continue to show an upper
level ridge moving on to the west coast and remaining in place
there through mid week. This will leave the region in a
northwest flow upper level pattern and mostly dry early next
week and moisture return will be limited. Early in the week
temperature will gradually warm back into the 50s. The middle of
next week the ensemble model members show an upper level trough
moving through the northwest flow across the region. There are
difference between the model members on the exact timing and
track of the this system. The trough will bring cooler
conditions to the area. Again most return will be limited and
most members have the area remaining dry with the trough during
the middle of next week at this time.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 452 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

A system will bring gusty southerly winds to the area along with
showers and thunderstorms. Showers and some storms have
developed across portions of Kansas and Oklahoma early this
morning. This activity will continue to move northeast into and
through the area this morning into this afternoon.

MVFR to IFR ceilings will also occur across the area this
morning into this afternoon. Ceilings may improve this afternoon
into early this evening, though ceilings could bounce between
MVFR and VFR at times during this timeframe. MVFR and possibly
IFR ceilings will then develop over the area again by late this
evening into tonight.

&&

.SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...None.
MO...None.

&&

MESOSCALE...Didio
SHORT TERM...Wise
LONG TERM...Wise
AVIATION...Wise

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Springfield MO
253 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-090900-
Bourbon-Crawford-Cherokee-Benton-Morgan-Miller-Maries-Vernon-
St. Clair-Hickory-Camden-Pulaski-Phelps-Barton-Cedar-Polk-Dallas-
Laclede-Texas-Dent-Jasper-Dade-Greene-Webster-Wright-Newton-
Lawrence-Christian-Douglas-Howell-Shannon-McDonald-Barry-Stone-
Taney-Ozark-Oregon-
253 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Missouri
Ozarks and extreme southeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

  Marginal tornado risk.
  Marginal hail risk.
  Marginal thunderstorm wind damage risk.
  Limited lightning risk.
  Limited excessive rainfall risk
  Limited non thunderstorm wind risk.

DISCUSSION...

Gusty southerly winds will occur across the area this morning into
this afternoon. Gusts of 30 to 40 mph will occur at times.

Showers and some thunderstorms will develop and move northeast
through the area this morning and afternoon. There is a Marginal
risk of strong to severe storms, with scattered damaging winds up
to 60 mph being the main risk. There is a low risk for a brief
isolated tornado. Locally heavy rainfall will also be possible
mainly northwest of I-44 but the flooding risk is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

  No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

  Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.

&&

More detailed information can be accessed at:
http://www.weather.gov/sgf/dsspacket

This product in graphical format...along with other weather...
hydrological and climate information...at
http://www.weather.gov/sgf

Wise