Insider Blog

The first hard freeze of the season is only a few days behind us, but temperatures are expected to rise to near-record highs this weekend. Temperatures have been on a seesaw all month, with two freezes in the first two weeks of November and above-average heat in between. Average temperatures drop steadily throughout November, typically

The northern lights paid a visit to the southern latitudes again on Tuesday night, and a series of solar storms could produce another aurora display tonight. The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm watch in anticipation of a strong coronal mass ejection (CME) reaching Earth on Wednesday. CMEs are massive

It’s the end of an era for one of America’s oldest and most beloved publications. The Farmers’ Almanac, a staple of country stores, kitchen tables, and weather debates for more than two centuries, announced it will cease publication after its 2026 edition. In a statement, the Almanac said, “This decision, though difficult, reflects the growing

November’s full moon, also known as the beaver moon, will be visible on Wednesday night, and this full moon is also a supermoon. The moon reached peak illumination around 7:19 a.m. Central Time on Wednesday morning, and it will still be visible as a full moon tonight. According to NASA, this year’s beaver moon will

Halloween may be all about goblins and ghouls, but Mother Nature can bring scares any time of year. Imagine walking through your house on a stormy night. Sometimes, the most frightening weather even seems to blur the line between science and the supernatural. Every day, lightning strikes the earth around eight million times. Most flashes

Hurricane Melissa has been a devastating storm for islands in the Caribbean, reaching category 5 strength yesterday before making landfall in Jamaica. Due to the strength that hurricane Melissa had yesterday, records were tied and even broken in some categories. Melissa is now tied with two other hurricanes for the strongest sustained winds at landfall,

High chocolate prices may spook some shoppers this Halloween season as cocoa continues to get more expensive. Cocoa prices have more than doubled in the past year due to unfavorable growing conditions in areas where cocoa is produced. West Africa, particularly Ghana and the Ivory Coast, is the primary producer of the world’s cocoa, but

Forecasters are warning of catastrophic flooding as Tropical Storm Melissa moves across the Caribbean this weekend. Melissa is currently a tropical storm with winds at 65 mph, but it could become a major hurricane by Sunday, possibly reaching Category 3 or 4 strength. Melissa is stalled over warm water in the Caribbean, which will fuel

Fall colors are behind schedule this year and may not be as brilliant as in the past, thanks to a warming and changing climate. This year was a good example of how different fall looks and feels as summer heat stretches longer and the fall cooldown hits more abruptly later in the season. Temperatures have

It’s that time of the year when cooler mornings arrive, and overnight frosts/freezes become more likely. The first frost in Central Missouri is slightly behind schedule, though, as areas like Columbia typically experience this event by October 20th. Areas to the north, like Macon and Moberly, usually experience their first frost even earlier in the

This past weekend, you may have noticed fog reducing your visibility as you drove to your destination. Fog can occur due to many reasons, and can have a big impact on commutes on a daily basis. Simply put, fog is tiny visible water droplets in the atmosphere that can often be thought of as a

The spring season is known for the activity it brings, including thunderstorms and severe weather. It has been deemed the main severe weather season, but, of course, it is not the only time of year when severe weather can occur. Although it is not as active, the fall season serves as a secondary severe weather

As we head deeper into October, some of the usual hallmarks of fall are missing so far this season. Mid-Missourians have been sipping pumpkin spice and heading to pumpkin patches while temperatures remain above average and summer-like. Warmer fall days have staved off any chances of seeing frost yet, and we’re about to be behind

The calendar says fall, but the thermostat says otherwise. Temperatures in early October have been near 90 degrees weeks after the end of summer, driving an increase in demand for cooling. This growing need for cooling has been seen for decades. In Columbia, the number of cooling degree days has increased by almost 20% in

If you turned on your car this morning, you may have noticed a low tire pressure warning pop up on your dashboard. Don’t worry, because this sudden change in tire pressure could just be due to the colder air that was seen this morning. Temperatures were measured in the mid 40s this morning, which is

Drought is a year-round concern, but how it’s tracked and analyzed changes with the seasons. In the warmer months, in the spring through early fall, scientists focus on soil moisture and rainfall patterns to determine drought. These indicators help assess how much water is available for crops and vegetation during the growing season. When rainfall

As high pressure dominated the forecast for the majority of September, it led to a dry and warm start to the fall, compared to the same month in previous years. The daily high temperatures measured through September resulted in an average temperature of 84 degrees for the entire month. Comparing this to the normal average

The Atlantic has been busy over the weekend, as Hurricane Humberto was deemed a major hurricane on September 26th once it reached category 3 strength by the afternoon hours. The next day, September 27th, it rapidly strengthened to a category 5 hurricane. This storm was producing sustained winds up to 160 mph. As of today,

Homecoming came early this year, so fans will probably need fewer layers at Faurot for Saturday’s game. Mizzou faces UMass this weekend for its 114th homecoming, which will be held a bit earlier than usual. Traditionally, homecoming happens in October or sometimes November, when fall “football weather” has taken hold and temperatures are cooler. This