Record heat, storms today with winter-like cold on the way

Record April Heat

A perfect mix of a mild and muggy morning, alongside stout adiabatic afternoon warming, temperatures soared across mid-Missouri today. Jefferson City was the hot-spot in mid-Missouri with a high temperature of 91º at 3:53 pm. This breaks a 115-year-old record for April 8th of 88º.

This is also the 2nd warmest April temperature ever recorded at Jefferson City Memorial Airport. Columbia also broke their record for the date as well.

Big changes are on the way

As the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team has been advertising since this weekend, big-time weather changes are on the way to mid-Missouri. A (modified) arctic air mass is set to plunge southward bringing temperatures that will be 15-25 degrees cooler than average.

Check out how cold temperatures could be across the country by Monday morning! Frost and freeze potentials will be a major concern over the next 7 days! If you have sensitive plants, consider covering them or bringing them indoors!

The Polar Vortex... really?

Yep. This is the reason behind the big cool down. That one thing we always talk about bringing arctic air in the winter can actually do the same thing in spring. The only difference is that the air mass isn't AS cold due to its longer exposure to daylight in the spring.

This may have you asking if it could snow too... Let 's just say, it's not out of the question. Here's a look at winter-related records for April at Columbia Regional Airport.

Don't put away those winter jackets just yet!

-Luke