Drivers across the Quad State region — including western Kentucky, southern Illinois, southeast Missouri, and northwest Tennessee — are urged to stay alert tonight as temperatures plummet below freezing once again, setting the stage for black ice and another wave of bitter cold.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, any leftover moisture from Monday’s precipitation will refreeze overnight, creating slick conditions on bridges, overpasses, and untreated roads. While skies will remain mostly clear, the rapid temperature drop will make surfaces appear deceptively dry, especially before sunrise Wednesday.
By Wednesday morning, lows will hover in the upper teens to low 20s, with wind chills dipping into the single digits across southern Illinois and southeast Missouri. A reinforcing Arctic front arriving Wednesday night will usher in even colder air, driving Thursday morning’s wind chills near or below zero degrees in some locations.
Daytime highs on Thursday may struggle to reach the freezing mark, marking one of the coldest stretches so far this season. This extended cold pattern is expected to linger into next week, keeping frost and freeze risks high across the region.
Residents should plan to let faucets drip overnight, check heating systems, and keep emergency blankets in their vehicles in case of roadside delays. For drivers, black ice remains the main hazard — especially before 9 a.m. Wednesday.
By Friday, conditions stay dry but chilly, with highs in the mid-30s to lower 40s and lows near 20°F.
Winter has arrived early across the heart of the Quad State, and the next 48 hours will bring its sharpest chill yet.
