MT. VERNON — Southern Illinois is primed for some of the coldest air we’ve seen in recent years Tuesday through Thursday. A wind chill advisory has been issued from midnight Tuesday to noon central time on Wednesday.
According to the National Weather Service, if Mt. Vernon hits its forecasted high of nine degrees on Wednesday, it would only be the fourth time in the last 22 years that the city of Mt. Vernon has recorded a high in the single digits. The other three dates Mt. Vernon could not crack 10 degrees for the high were January 24th, 2003; January 31st, 2004; and January 17th, 2018.
Wind chills of between 10 below and 20 below zero are likely, and the cold wind chills could cause frost bite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Residents are warned to wear layers if going outside during the upcoming cold snap.