winter

Be wrong. That's my hope for a new forecast for the upcoming winter in Missouri for 2023/2024. The prediction calls for Missouri to be blasted by a big polar vortex and multiple arctic blasts.

I've never been accused of being the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I'm having a hard time understanding how a new forecast calling for more bone-chilling arctic air in Missouri this coming winter is the sun's fault.

Many of these traditions mentioned signs you can watch for that will alert you that Missouri is about to get hammered with a brutal winter.

I think by just about any measure, most would agree that winter for Missouri and Illinois has been generally mild so far. The big question is whether it will stay that way. One of the potential factors in whether this remains the status quo is the polar vortex. Will it eventually take aim at Missouri and Illinois? Let's find out.

Let me start by emphasizing this is based on an experimental forecasting method by weather "experts". Keep that in mind as I share that there is some belief by those "experts" that Missouri and Illinois could (another key word) see heavy snow starting later in February.

If you are interested in wild weather differences, the National Weather Service has quite a story to tell about what January was like in Quincy, Illinois. Overall, their stats show it was generally foggy with more than a 60 degree swing in temperatures from highs to lows.

Missouri has seen some big snow storms, but nothing like the one that buried the state during the largest 1-day snowfall in Show Me State history 12 years ago today.

Best to prepare for whatever the weather has planned for Tuesday night into Wednesday morning this week as the Hannibal, Missouri/Quincy, Illinois area is now in the middle of a winter weather advisory with increased snow totals now included.

Be aware that weather midweek could become interesting for many parts of Missouri and also some parts of Illinois as a storm system will be moving through the Midwest with "significant" snow possible.

You might remember the snow storm that rolled through Illinois in the middle of December. During that event, an Illinois dog owner tried to convince their dog to come inside. There's a very good reason why the dog appeared to say "thanks, but no" at this Chicago home.