Monday morning temperature in Cape lowest since February

After temperatures in Cape Girardeau reached the lowest point since February on Monday, the National Weather Service has placed the city and surrounding areas under a freezing rain advisory starting this morning.

Monday morning, the weather service recorded a low temperature of 6 degrees -- not a record, but the coldest temperature since Feb. 4 and about 20 degrees below the normal low, according to the weather service's website.

The Southeast Missourian recorded a low of minus 2 at its observation station at Cape Girardeau City Hall.

On Monday afternoon the weather service issued a freezing rain advisory that begins at 9 a.m. today for all of Southeast Missouri, except some Bootheel counties, as well as all of Southern Illinois. The advisory remains in effect until 6 p.m.

The weather service predicted Monday that freezing rain would begin late this morning and pick up in intensity in the afternoon, with temperatures hovering around freezing. Temperatures should start to rise above freezing late afternoon and into early evening.