Major Warm-Up Expected For Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, and Georgia for Christmas Week, CPC Outlook Shows

MISSOURI — A significant surge of warm air is forecast to spread across Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia during Christmas week, according to the latest Climate Prediction Center (CPC) outlook for December 23–29. Meteorologists report that a notable warm pattern is setting up across much of the central and southeastern United States, reducing hopes for a white Christmas and signaling above-normal temperatures for millions.

Warm Pattern Intensifies Ahead of the Holiday

Weather guidance released Tuesday morning shows a large warm anomaly expanding over the Mid-South and Southeast. The warm surge is highlighted on the CPC probability map, which indicates a strong likelihood that temperatures will trend warmer than typical for late December.

Cities shown inside the warm zone include:

• St. Louis, Missouri
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Knoxville, Tennessee
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Surrounding regions across Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Kentucky

This setup represents a broad area of temperature departures consistent with a major warm spell rather than winter conditions.

Forecasters Say “Heat Miser” Pattern Takes Over

The update notes that early hopes for a snowy holiday have faded. Forecasters describe the upcoming setup as a “heat miser” situation, where persistent warm air dominates instead of allowing cold Arctic air to move south.

The strong warm signal increases confidence that the region will avoid significant winter weather through Christmas week.

CPC Outlook Highlights a High Probability of Above-Normal Temperatures

The CPC map for December 23–29 shows deep red shading across the central and southeastern United States, indicating temperatures well above seasonal norms. This suggests the holiday week will feel more like a mild late-fall stretch rather than typical winter cold.

Travel and Holiday Impact

With warmer-than-normal conditions expected:

• Road and air travel may avoid winter-weather disruptions
• Snow chances across the listed states remain extremely low
• Outdoor plans are more likely to benefit from mild temperatures

Meteorologists caution that the outlook is still subject to change but emphasize that current data strongly favors warmer conditions.

NapervilleLocal.com will continue monitoring updates as new guidance is released.