Joplin's winters are cold and variable, with temperatures often below freezing but occasionally rising into the mid-teens. Spring is a period of gradual warming, with March marking the beginning of more consistent warmth. Summer months are hot and stable, with July and August being the warmest, while September sees a slight decline in temperature before the onset of fall. Autumn brings mild days and cooler nights, with temperatures sometimes dipping into single digits but rarely staying that low for long.