Paducah, Kentucky – Life-threatening cold conditions are continuing across western Kentucky, with dangerously low wind chills and an extended stretch of below-freezing temperatures lasting through Tuesday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, wind chill values between 10 and 20 degrees below zero are expected through early Tuesday, prompting warnings of rapid frostbite and hypothermia if skin is exposed.
Forecasters say the current cold pattern is expected to result in 11 consecutive days below freezing for much of the region. While temperatures may rise close to or slightly above freezing later Tuesday, officials note the duration of this cold stretch is longer than the February 2021 cold snap and nearing historical benchmarks.
Paducah’s longest recorded freeze remains 13 consecutive days in 1978, while Evansville’s record is 18 days from December 2000 to January 2001. Overnight lows across the region have routinely dropped into the single digits and below zero, with daytime highs struggling to reach the upper 20s to low 30s.
The Extreme Cold Warning covers much of western Kentucky, including Paducah, Murray, Mayfield, and surrounding communities, as well as parts of southern Illinois and southwest Indiana.
Light winds Tuesday night into Wednesday may reduce wind chill severity, but officials caution that actual air temperatures will remain dangerously cold, continuing risks to people, pets, and infrastructure.
These conditions are especially hazardous for early-morning commuters, outdoor workers, and students, with exposure risks increasing during peak travel hours.
Residents are urged to limit time outdoors, wear layered winter clothing, protect pets and pipes, and check on vulnerable neighbors until temperatures moderate.
