FirstWarn Weather

11/01/2025

First Warn Forecast: Saturday, November 1, 2025
Freeze Warning Tonight | A Few Showers Today | Warmer Weather Next Week

November begins on a chilly note across the region as fall settles in for real this weekend. A weak cold front is sliding just southeast of the area this morning, bringing clouds and a few light rain showers to parts of central and southeast Missouri. Most of the precipitation has been evaporating before reaching the ground due to dry air near the surface, but southeast Missouri and southwest Illinois have the best shot at measurable rainfall—up to a tenth of an inch possible. Elsewhere, expect more clouds than sunshine today and perhaps a few isolated sprinkles.

Temperatures will stay cool all day under the influence of cold air advection behind the front. Many areas north of I-70 may struggle to reach 50 degrees, while southeast Missouri could climb into the lower 50s. Clouds will gradually clear later tonight as high pressure settles in overhead.

That’s when the coldest air of the season so far will move in. Clear skies, calm winds, and dry air will combine for ideal radiational cooling overnight. A Freeze Warning is in effect for most of eastern Missouri and west-central Illinois as temperatures fall into the upper 20s and low 30s by sunrise Sunday. This will be the first widespread freeze of the season, marking the end of the growing season for many. A few areas—including St. Louis and nearby counties—are under a Freeze Watch due to some uncertainty about lingering cloud cover or slightly higher dewpoints, but even there, frost and near-freezing temperatures are likely.

Sunday will bring plenty of sunshine, but it will stay cool with highs in the low to mid-50s. By Sunday night into Monday, the pattern shifts as high pressure moves east and southerly winds return. That will start a warming trend that carries through much of next week.

By Monday and Tuesday, temperatures will rebound into the 60s, with dry conditions expected across the region. Two weak cold fronts are expected to pass—one early in the week and another around Wednesday—but neither will bring much more than passing clouds. The end of the week could feature another chance of rain as a stronger trough approaches, but confidence remains low for now.

All in all, this weekend brings a taste of late fall—cold nights, crisp days, and the first freeze of the season—before a return to mild, comfortable weather early next week.

10/31/2025

Check this out.

Tuesday, the legendary Hurricane Hunters pulled off one of their most extreme missions yet.

Flying straight into the core of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, a Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules was slammed by violent turbulence so severe it may have stressed the aircraft’s frame, forcing the crew to abort the mission and return to Curaçao for inspection.

Inside Melissa’s eyewall, the plane was hurled hundreds of feet up and down in seconds—nearly 700 feet of vertical motion in one minute.

Despite the chaos, they gathered historic data—a central pressure of 893 mb and a record-shattering 252 mph wind gust, the strongest ever measured by dropsonde in a hurricane.

For over 35 minutes, TEAL 75 circled inside the eye, searching for a way out through more extreme turbulence.

These brave men and women, many flying without extra pay, risked everything to gather data that sharpened forecasts for Melissa.

A legendary mission that will go down in Hurricane Hunter history.

10/31/2025

10/31/2025

First Warn Forecast: Friday, October 31, 2025
Cool and Dry Weekend Ahead | Freeze Likely Sunday Night | Warm-Up Returns Next Week

October wraps up on a calm, cool note with plenty of sunshine and another dose of true fall air. Despite a chilly start this morning, sunshine and a gentle southwest breeze will help temperatures rebound a bit higher than yesterday. Most areas will reach the low 60s this afternoon, with parts of southeast Missouri approaching the mid-60s. Farther north into northeast Missouri and west-central Illinois, a few passing clouds from an approaching trough will hold highs in the upper 50s.

A weak cold front will move through the region tonight, but moisture remains limited, so rain chances stay very low—less than 20 percent. There could be a few sprinkles across far southeast Missouri or southwest Illinois by Saturday afternoon, but most of the area will stay dry. The bigger story will be the cooler air that follows behind the front.

Overnight temperatures will dip into the upper 30s to around 40 degrees tonight, but the real chill arrives Saturday night into Sunday morning as a strong dome of high pressure settles in. Clear skies, light winds, and dry air will make for ideal radiational cooling, and widespread freezing temperatures are expected. A Freeze Advisory is already in place for most of eastern Missouri and west-central Illinois, with lows expected to fall into the upper 20s and low 30s by daybreak Sunday. That will mark the end of the growing season for much of the area.

Saturday itself will stay cool, with highs only in the mid-50s to near 60 and some lingering clouds early in the day before sunshine returns by afternoon. Sunday will be sunny but brisk, with highs again in the 50s and a frosty start for just about everyone.

By Monday, the weather pattern starts to shift. High pressure slides east and southerly winds return, bringing a gradual warm-up. Temperatures will climb into the 60s early in the week, and by midweek, many areas south of I-70 have better than a 50 percent chance of reaching the low 70s.

The first week of November looks quiet overall, with dry weather and mild afternoons replacing the chill of this weekend. It’s a classic fall transition—cold mornings, sunny afternoons, and that steady march toward a milder pattern next week.

10/30/2025

This is a fake photo circulating social media.

Fake photo.

10/30/2025

Time change this weekend! Do you like changing time or should we keep it the same all the time? Chime in...

10/30/2025

First Warn Forecast: Thursday, October 30, 2025
Cool and Quiet to Close October | Patchy Frost Tonight | Warmer Weather Next Week

The weather is settling down just in time to end October on a calm and comfortable note. After several gray and rainy days, we’re finally in for a stretch of mostly dry, crisp fall weather—perfect for Halloween preparations or getting outside to enjoy the season. A weak disturbance will move across the Midwest this afternoon, but with very limited moisture in place, it’ll only bring a few passing clouds. Most of the region will stay dry from start to finish. Temperatures will hover in the mid to upper 50s under partly to mostly cloudy skies.

As that disturbance moves east tonight, skies will clear and winds will turn light. Temperatures will drop quickly into the mid-30s to around 40 by daybreak. Some sheltered valleys and rural areas could dip even colder, so patchy frost is possible—especially across central and northeast Missouri.

Friday will bring more sunshine and a noticeable warm-up. Light westerly winds and clear skies will help afternoon temperatures climb into the upper 50s and lower 60s, making it one of the nicest days of the week. It’ll feel like classic fall: a cool start, a pleasant afternoon, and a crisp evening.

A stronger upper-level trough will swing through the Mississippi Valley on Saturday, but it won’t have much moisture to work with. There’s only a slight chance—around 20 to 30 percent—for a few light showers across southeast Missouri and southern Illinois. Most areas north of I-70 will stay dry. Behind the trough, high pressure builds in Saturday night, setting the stage for another chilly morning on Sunday.

Sunday morning could bring the coldest temperatures of the season so far. Central and northeast Missouri may briefly drop to the freezing mark, while the rest of the area settles in the mid-30s with widespread frost. The day itself will be cool but bright, with highs in the mid- to upper-50s.

Looking ahead, November starts on a warmer note. The weather pattern will shift, allowing a ridge of high pressure to build and temperatures to climb. Highs will rise into the low to mid-60s early next week and could approach 70 by Wednesday. Dry weather is expected to continue through much of the week, giving us a pleasant start to the new month.

10/29/2025

Watch: Hurricane Hunter plane ride inside of Melissa before hitting Jamaica.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1D4hquUtrH/?mibextid=wwXIfr

10/29/2025

First Warn Forecast: Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Serving St. Louis, Central Missouri, Southeast Missouri, and Southern Illinois

Rain Finally Moves Out Today
Cooler, Dry Weather Follows
Frost Chances Return Overnight

After several damp, gray days, the steady rain is finally coming to an end. The same low-pressure system that brought widespread rainfall across the region is now sliding east into the Tennessee Valley, allowing drier air to move in from the northwest.

As the system slowly pulls away, rain will end from northwest to southeast today. By late morning, most areas along and northwest of a Jefferson City to Greenfield, IL line will have dried out. For areas farther southeast — including St. Louis, Farmington, and into southern Illinois — showers will linger a bit longer, tapering off by late afternoon or early evening.

Don’t expect much sunshine today, but the clouds will gradually begin to thin behind the departing storm. With cool, moist air and limited heating, temperatures will only manage to climb about 10 degrees from morning lows, topping out in the mid to upper 50s in areas where the rain ends early, and staying in the low 50s where it lingers longer.

Tonight: Clearing Skies and Frost Possible

Once the rain exits completely, skies will continue to clear from northwest to southeast, and winds will turn light out of the north. That combination of clearing skies and calm winds is a perfect setup for radiational cooling — meaning temperatures will drop fast after sunset.

Overnight lows will fall into the mid-30s, and some of the colder pockets west of the Mississippi River may even dip into the lower 30s by daybreak Thursday. Patchy frost is likely in rural and sheltered areas, so it’s a good idea to cover any late-season plants or bring potted ones indoors tonight.

Thursday Through the Weekend: Classic Fall Weather

The pattern ahead looks quieter and more typical for late October. A broad upper trough will stay parked over the eastern U.S., keeping the Mid-Mississippi Valley locked in a northwest flow aloft — and that means cooler-than-average temperatures and generally dry weather.

Highs Thursday through Saturday will stay in the mid- to upper-50s, with lows in the 30s to near 40. The coolest day looks to be Saturday, when another reinforcing cold front slides through the region. Some models hint at a few clouds or sprinkles with that front, but most guidance — especially the European model — keeps us dry through the weekend.

Early Next Week: A Modest Warm-Up

By Monday and Tuesday, the longwave pattern begins to shift, allowing a ridge to build over the western U.S. and nudge eastward. That should help temperatures climb back into the low to mid-60s for the first few days of November. Nights will still be chilly, but this gradual warm-up will make for a pleasant start to the new month.

Rain moves out today, leaving behind cooler, dry, and breezy fall weather. Expect patchy frost tonight, with a quiet stretch through the weekend before a gradual warm-up early next week. It’s exactly the kind of fall pattern you’d expect to close out October — crisp mornings, cool afternoons, and clear skies.

10/29/2025

WOW – Incredible Hurricane Image! 🛰️

One of the most stunning satellite images ever captured from inside the eye of a hurricane!

This was Category 5 Hurricane Melissa earlier today — and if you look closely, you can even see the waves of the blue Caribbean Sea below! 🌊💙

A truly breathtaking yet terrifying reminder of the raw power of nature.

Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)

10/28/2025

One of the most dramatic images ever captured from inside a Category 5 hurricane’s eye..this was on Monday, October 27, 2025

NOAA’s Hurricane Hunters shot this Monday inside Hurricane Melissa. The “stadium effect” in full display, formed by towering cumulonimbus clouds curving upward like a massive arena around the calm eye.

Crews even reported birds trapped inside the calm center, surrounded by the storm’s extreme winds..

10/28/2025

Look at the lightning from the eyewall of Melissa. Intense