Nate Splater

While looking at holiday lights over the next few nights you might catch a glimpse of a bright spot in the sky above. The 'Christmas star' will be bright enough to see with just your eyes as Jupiter moves closer in orbit in the coming weeks. Many are likely familiar with the Biblical story of

TODAY: Temperatures warm dramatically today up to the 50s with plenty of sunshine to enjoy. Winds out of the southwest may gust above 20 mph.

TODAY: Clouds increase throughout the day as rain tracks through southeast Missouri. Rain may reach up to I-44 by the evening, but most of Mid-MO stays dry. Temperatures remain warm, with many areas reaching 60 degrees this afternoon.

THIS AFTERNOON: Temperatures will be cold north of I-70 today remaining near or below freezing while those to the south reach the 40s. Clouds will mostly linger in the north today with light snow flurries possible in northern Missouri.

While wildfires may be far from our minds during the chilly and snowy wintertime, other parts of the country have been dry this season. That has fueled huge fires out west in California with the Franklin Fire threatening the seaside resort city of Malibu in recent days. The forecast is expected to improve, though. Dry

THIS AFTERNOON: Temperatures remain cold in the 30s for most of the area with only our far southern counties reaching the low 40s. Cloud cover fills in but rain chances remain low until late this evening.

As temperatures continue to drop to near or below freezing, several types of winter precipitation have started to appear in forecasts. Predicting different types of precipitation requires a detailed analysis of the atmosphere from top to bottom and a steady process of increasing confidence. Precipitation type is determined by the temperature of the atmosphere at

TODAY: Widespread showers last through noon with a few isolated rumbles of thunder. Rain becomes lighter in the afternoon and evening with totals reaching over an inch in many spots. Temperatures reach the 40s despite the rain and clouds.

TODAY: Clouds in the morning with patchy drizzle possible. Sunshine briefly returns in the afternoon. Temperatures reach the 50s for most, while northern Missouri is a tad cooler in the upper 40s.

TODAY: Bright but chilly with temperatures just barely above freezing in the afternoon. TOMORROW: Temperatures jump to the 40s on Sunday as southerly winds ramp up.