LONG-AWAITED WARMUP FORECAST FOR AREA; AFTER COLD SPELL, 50 DEGREES OFFERS WELCOME RELIEF

Forecasters finally are calling for the cold spell to snap.

In fact, the area should see temperatures reaching near the 50-degree mark by early next week, the National Weather Service said.

"It certainly is good news," said Mary Lamm, a weather service forecaster at Paducah. "With all the melting snow and ice, it's going to be soggy, but that's worth it."

Arctic air that has gripped the region will move east and the winds will blow from the south, causing temperatures to rise, she said.

There doesn't appear to be any storm systems on the immediate horizon.

"We've had one storm system right after another," Lamm said. "That's what kept the temps low. But that's not the case this time; we should see at least a week of fairly decent weather."

The weather service is calling for flurries today and Sunday, she said.

Climatologist Dr. Al Robertson of Southeast Missouri State University said if temperatures do reach 50 degrees, they will be higher than normal for January, typically the coldest month of the year.

"In January the average high is around 41 or 42 degrees," Robertson said. "So it will be a little higher than it usually gets. But weather moves in cycles so it's nothing really exciting. But I guess it will be exciting after having temperatures in the teens.

"Just enjoy it if it gets to 50 degrees; I will."

People have been struggling with the frigid air and icy conditions for weeks. Most say they welcome the pleasant change.

Robert Jones, 67, of Cape Girardeau said he has stayed indoors for two days this week because of the ice and cold.

"And that's unusual for me," he said. "I'll be glad to see the warm weather so I won't have to be afraid of falling on the ice."

The forecast looks similar for the entire state, the weather service reported Friday.

Today should be mostly cloudy in the northeast with a chance of snow in the afternoon. Forecasters call for partly cloudy skies in the west with highs from around 20 in the far northeast to near 40 in the western part of the state.

Tonight looks to be mostly cloudy in the east during the evening with a chance of snow but clear overnight.

Temperatures should be moderating Sunday with a mostly sunny sky. It looks to be windy in the northeastern and central parts of the state. Temperatures will vary with highs from the middle 30s in the far northeast to near 50 in the far west.