The National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for the southern Illinois region from midnight tonight through noon Sunday. A blast of Arctic air is expected to move into the area today, possibly bringing some light snow to the area, then dropping temperatures.
The current forecast indicates a 40 percent chance of snow developing today and lasting into tonight. Temperatures are expected to begin dropping this afternoon and drop into the single digits tonight. Winds up to 23 mph could drop the wind chill to as low as ten below zero tonight. Sunday is expected to be a sunny day but very cold, with the high temperature barely making it to the teens, with wind chills as low as 14 below zero.
After the weekend cold snap, a quick warmup is expected beginning Monday, with temperatures rebounding to the middle 50s by later next week.
With the cold temperatures, residents are being advised to take measures to protect their homes during the cold weather, including dripping faucets to prevent frozen pipes, and checking on loved ones during the cold weather.
The extended forecasts do favor above normal temperatures continue for the next couple of weeks, possibly extending beyond the Christmas holiday.