Forecast low nears record

After relief from a heat wave that broke a 24-year-old record for consecutive 90-degree days, temperatures in the region were expected to dip into the 40s, not far from the coldest day record.

The National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., forecast a low of 46 degrees for Wednesday night. The record low for Wednesday's date is 42 degrees.

Temperatures have not gone above 80 degrees since late Monday evening.

"We've had a change in our overall weather pattern," said Chris Noles of the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky.

The change is due to a high-pressure system from Canada drifting across the region, he said.

A cool northeasterly air flow across the upper Mississippi River valley has resulted in crisp, dry, autumnlike days with temperatures lingering in the 70s during the day and the 40s at night.

Today, high drifts east and wind moving in a more southerly direction should bump temperatures up to highs in the low 80s, with lots of sunshine, Noles said.

By Friday, there's a slight chance that Tropical Storm Humberto, which was nearing the Texas coast Wednesday night, may bring some scattered showers, Noles said.

Southeast Missouri received 1.17 inches of rain in August.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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