Cape Girardeau, MO –A crisp, clear November night is on the way across the lower Ohio Valley as a Freeze Watch takes effect late tonight through Sunday morning for southern Illinois and southeast Missouri, including Mount Vernon, Carbondale, Marion, Poplar Bluff, Cape Girardeau, and Sikeston. The National Weather Service in Paducah warns that temperatures could drop to near 30°F, bringing the region’s first widespread subfreezing chill of the season.
Under a high-pressure ridge, winds will calm and skies will clear — perfect conditions for rapid cooling after midnight. By dawn Sunday, widespread frost and freezing conditions are likely, particularly in rural valleys and low-lying areas.
Forecasters urge residents to cover tender plants, disconnect hoses, and wrap exposed pipes to avoid freeze damage. Farmers and gardeners should prepare for a growing season-ending freeze, as conditions will be cold enough to kill unprotected vegetation.
Drivers on I-57, I-55, and Highway 60 may notice patchy frost on windshields and bridges early Sunday, though no major travel disruptions are expected.
After the cold start, Sunday will turn bright and mild, with afternoon highs in the upper 50s under sunshine. Warmer conditions return early next week, with highs back near 60°F Monday and Tuesday before another cool front approaches midweek.
For now, though, the Paducah region faces a classic early November freeze — crisp, calm, and signaling that winter’s slow approach has officially begun.
