Monday, December 9 forecast: Waves of fronts end with a shot of arctic air

Dreary days are not uncommon during the month of December and boy did we get one today. Clouds kept temperatures from moving much with morning lows in the mid-40s and afternoon highs in the low 50s. The day ended with a touch of sunshine closer to Central Missouri, a promise of brighter weather to come.

For tonight, clouds will hang around through the evening. A little patchy drizzle may come with the clouds, but most areas will remain dry. Clouds will clear out from northwest to southeast by morning with temperatures slipping to freezing.

Colder air will settle in Tuesday making for a more winterlike chill. We can look forward to a mix of sun and clouds with temperatures struggling to get to 40°.

This is ahead of the next cold front that will arrive by Wednesday morning. That front will usher in some arctic air setting the stage for an even colder day Wednesday. Some clouds will come with the arctic blast and there may even be a few snow flurries or light snow showers northeast of Springfield. Temperatures will only warm into the 30s in most areas with gusty northwest winds driving wind chills down into the 10s and 20s.

Thursday will be a transition day back to a milder mode with a warm front lifting out of Arkansas. But first, we've got to get through a frigid morning with lows in the upper 10s and 20s. The day as a whole, looks nice with a mix of sun and high clouds and temperatures climbing into the 40s and 50s. Winds will pick up out of the south though generating a little bit of a bite to the air.

Our next storm may also be approaching the area on Friday. This would lead to cloudier skies Friday into the weekend with a chance for showers Friday into Saturday.

Temperatures will be cool, but a little above normal for mid-December. The backend of the coming weekend should come with sunnier weather with another storm on track to bring clouds and a chance for showers by Monday.