Stoddard County, Missouri - The National Weather Service has updated their Special Weather Statement for Stoddard County.

• ... EXTENDED PERIOD OF ARCTIC COLD EXPECTED THIS WEEK...

• WELL BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST THIS WEEK. IN FACT... AFTER TODAY... HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY STAY WELL BELOW FREEZING. THE PERIOD OF GREATEST CONCERN CONTINUES TO BE LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT... WHEN A VERY STRONG ARCTIC HIGH WILL SURGE SOUTHEAST OVER THE REGION.

• GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS AT 15 TO 30 MPH WILL FORCE TEMPERATURES TO FALL THROUGH THE TEENS WEDNESDAY. THE COMBINATION OF THE COLD TEMPERATURES AND GUSTY WINDS WILL RESULT IN WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS 5 TO 15 DEGREES BELOW ZERO FROM MIDDAY WEDNESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. THE LOWEST WIND CHILLS WILL IMPACT THE AREA ALONG THE INTERSTATE 64 CORRIDOR OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND SOUTHWEST INDIANA. AS THE WINDS DIMINISH WEDNESDAY NIGHT... TEMPERATURES WILL FALL TO NEAR OR SLIGHTLY BELOW ZERO OVER MOST OF THE REGION.

• EVERYONE IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO LIMIT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WEDNESDAY INTO EARLY THURSDAY. TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO WATER LINES. STRONG WINDS DURING THE EXTREME COLD SNAP CAN DIRECT THE FRIGID AIR INTO POORLY INSULATED AREAS MORE EFFICIENTLY AND RESULT IN DAMAGE TO PIPES. ALSO MAKE SURE ANY OUTDOOR PETS HAVE WARM SHELTER AND AN UNFROZEN WATER SUPPLY.