The National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri, has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for parts of Missouri and Illinois, with wind chills expected to drop as low as 15 degrees below zero. The advisory affects areas of northeast Missouri and west-central and south-central Illinois through Monday morning, including St. Louis, where skies are partly cloudy and temperatures are around 11°F, according to the NWS.
Southwest winds are currently around 8 mph, contributing to a wind chill of -1°F in the frigid air. Winds are expected to strengthen during the day, with gusts potentially reaching 22 mph as cloud cover increases.
Tonight, temperatures are expected to drop to around 11 degrees, with northwest winds between 10 and 18 mph and gusts possibly reaching 33 mph. The forecast notes that conditions will remain very cold, and residents are advised to check on neighbors, particularly older adults and those without shelter.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, sunny skies are expected, but temperatures will remain cold, with a high near 22 degrees and northwest winds of 8 to 17 mph, with gusts up to 29 mph. Later in the week, temperatures are forecast to rise gradually, potentially reaching a high near 45 degrees by Wednesday.
The Hazardous Weather Outlook indicates that spotter activation is not expected at this time. Residents are advised to take precautions against the cold, protect pipes from freezing, ensure pets have adequate shelter, and stay updated on the latest forecasts and advisories, which are available on the NWS website.
