Residents of St. Louis and surrounding areas, brace yourselves for a chilly end to January. The Hazardous Weather Outlook by the NWS in St. Louis reported frigid temperatures early this morning, with wind chill readings diving to -5 to -15 degrees. As the city emerges under the mostly sunny sky, don't be too quick to shed your layers; highs are only expected to reach near 20 degrees Fahrenheit today, with northwest winds blowing at 6 to 10 mph, and chilling gusts up to 20 mph.
Tonight's forecast suggests a slight reprieve from the biting cold, with a mostly clear sky and a low around 4 degrees. The calm wind, around 6 mph, will shift from northwest to calm in the evening, giving residents an illusion of warmth. However, Sunday might surprise us with a 20 percent chance of snow after noon, as clouds gather to push the high near 31 degrees. The beginning of the week shows some promise, with mostly sunny skies and highs inching up to around 38 degrees by Monday, according to the latest conditions updated by the NWS.
Looking ahead to the rest of the week, the Hazardous Weather Outlook does not suggest any immediate threats; no hazardous weather is expected from Sunday through Friday. While there's a 30 percent chance of snow predicted for Tuesday, the overall outlook remains mostly clear of any significant weather disturbances. This is a gentle reminder to those lamenting the cold: Missouri's winter, albeit harsh at times, is holding back on unleashing its full arsenal, at least for the coming days.
In preparation for these frosty days, residents should continue to bundle up and warm their homes adequately, especially when wind chill values take a nosedive. Wind chill, a phenomenon while the air feels colder than actual thermometer readings, can lead to increased risk of frostbite and hypothermia if not properly dressed for. On a brighter note, enjoy the mostly sunny days that are interspersed throughout the week and take heart that slightly warmer weather is on the horizon, with a predicted high near 42 degrees by next Friday. Remember, this is St. Louis—where weathering the weather is part of our shared rhythm and rhyme NWS.
