5 Bizarre Things You Might See During Winter in Missouri

If you're new to Missouri, you should prepare for anything and everything during the winter months. Having been born and raised here, I can warn you that it's best to expect the unexpected.

Get our free mobile app

In case you haven't been paying attention, the winter solstice arrives in Missouri Thursday night, December 21, 2023.

I have spent the better part of a half-century in Missouri and I always think I've seen it all. It's at that moment when Missouri says "Hold my beer" and pulls off something you think isn't possible. Here are a few bizarre things that I can almost guarantee you'll see at some point in Missouri this winter.

You think Missouri tornadoes only happen during spring and summer? Guess again. Some of the worst have slammed the state during the winter months. St. Louis had a famous EF-4 killer tornado that hit the city on January 24, 1967. Two years ago in 2021, a surprise EF-3 tornado took lives in southern Missouri in December, too. Hannibal had a surprise twister in December of 1949 also.

It's not unheard of for the thermometer in Missouri to top 70 in December. Back in 1970, both St. Louis, Missouri and even Quincy, Illinois set record highs of 72 at the start of winter. It can happen.

Mark my words. The first real significant snowfall in Missouri this winter will suddenly cause at least 50% of those on the road to act like they've never seen the white stuff before. Every winter when I see the first snow, I do my best to stay off the roads for at least a couple hours so that the general Missouri populace can remember how you drive on snow.

During a normal winter weather event, the farther north you are in Missouri, the more likely you'll see snow. But, there's almost always one storm that surprises and dumps snow on the southern half of the state and not the northern. It's very confusing.

My dad used to tell me if you don't like Missouri weather, wait 10 minutes and it will change. This is a great example. At least one snow storm every few years will be followed up by sunny and warm temperatures in the afternoon. Then, just for fun, the melted snow will freeze again overnight and turn roads into skating rinks. Like I said, when it comes to winter in Missouri, expect the unexpected.