Right now in Springfield, the air is about 73°F, but the model estimates the asphalt under your dog's paws is closer to 73°F — the surface and air have nearly converged because the pavement is shedding the day's stored heat after dark. That reading puts Springfield in the clear for an ordinary walk. Air temperature alone would have told you none of this — the pavement, not the forecast, is what your dog actually stands on.
Only an hour of today are left in Springfield, and the pavement is not expected to climb past about 73°F in that time. The surface is already coming down, about 3°F over the next three hours, so waiting a little works in your favour here.
In an average October, Springfield sees highs around 69°F and overnight lows near 50°F. Those are forgiving numbers, but don't let them lull you — a sunny, still afternoon can still heat dark asphalt far above the air, especially for low-riding or short-coated dogs. For this month the normals suggest pavement rarely reaches unsafe temperatures here, but the seven-second hand test is still the final word on any given day.
Springfield loses its all-day safe window in 4 months of the year — June through September — and October is not one of them. The year peaks in July at an average high of 89°F against 44°F in January, a 45°F swing that decides how much of the day belongs to your dog.
The nearest city we track is Columbia, MO, roughly 131 miles from Springfield — far enough that its reading is no substitute for this one. Sun angle, humidity and cloud cover can all differ across that distance, which is why this page models Springfield on its own coordinates.
Whatever the number says, confirm it with your hand: press the back of it flat on the pavement for seven seconds. If you can't hold it there, neither can your dog. Conditions in Springfield are on the gentler side right now, but keep the same habits: water before and after, grass over asphalt, and a close eye on flat-faced breeds, seniors, and puppies, who overheat and burn sooner than a healthy adult dog.