St. Louis rolled into Sunday, February 22, 2026, under clear skies and a slap of midwinter cold. Morning temperatures hovered near 25°F and the afternoon high will struggle to reach 32°F, with a stiff northwest breeze making it feel even harsher. The sun will be out, but between the cold air and the wind, anything outside is going to feel pretty raw.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
Northwest winds of 15 to 20 mph, with gusts up to about 32 mph, are expected through the afternoon and will be strongest on exposed bridges and in wide-open neighborhoods. According to the National Weather Service in St. Louis, those gusts will drag wind chill values down into the single digits in parts of the area and can easily send unsecured trash cans and lawn chairs on an unplanned trip.
Tonight And Monday
Sunday night drops into the mid-teens, around 16°F, under partly cloudy skies, with northwest gusts near 30 mph early before they back off later at night. Monday stays on the cold side, with a high near 34°F and lighter northwest breezes as the strong system finally shifts off to the east.
Outdoors And Fire Safety
Dry air combined with brisk winds creates pockets of elevated fire danger across the bi-state region, so outdoor burning is discouraged and any planned burn piles should be put on hold. Our earlier coverage of the week’s flip between fog and gusty winds puts today’s caution in context, see fog to fierce winds for background.
Looking Ahead
Temperatures rebound quickly later in the week. A warmer push arrives Tuesday into Wednesday, with highs climbing into the mid to upper 50s and a Tuesday high near 55°F as southerly return flow develops. A fast-moving system may bring a chance of rain Wednesday night into Thursday, but the National Weather Service in St. Louis expects it to stay quick-hitting and generally unimpactful for the metro.
