RECORD LOWS ARE LOGGED; COLD GRIPS AREA, WARMUP ON WAY

Mother Nature didn't just break the record low temperature Monday morning, she smashed it.

A dome of arctic air that settled in over the Midwest late Sunday and early Monday broke many record low temperatures for Nov. 4.

At 6 a.m. Monday, the mercury sank to 16 degrees at the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport, breaking the 40yearold record low of 21 degrees for Nov. 4.

Other 6 a.m.-Monday lows around the state Monday (most of them new records) included 7 at Kansas City, 9 at Kirksville, 10 at Springfield, 11 at Vichy, 13 at Joplin, 14 at Columbia, and 20 at St. Louis.

A forecaster with the National Weather Service at St. Charles said the record cold was more typical of an outbreak of arctic air in mid-January.

Record lows around the country on Monday included 11 degrees at Bismark, N.D., which broke the 40yearold record; a minus 2 in Minneapolis, Minn., which broke a 30yearold record; and in Chicago the temperature at 7 a.m. was 11 degrees, cracking the record of 15 set 40 years ago.

The cold extended as far south as New Orleans, La., where residents were warned Tuesday night to protect exposed pipes, pets, and plants.

The cold weather is moving eastward and being replaced by more moderate but still unseasonably cool air.

Highs today and Wednesday were expected to reach into the low to mid 50s. There is a chance of showers tonight, with lows 35-40.

The extended outlook for Southeast Missouri for Thursday through Saturday calls for a chance of light rain early Thursday with continued below-normal temperatures.

Highs Thursday and Friday will remain in the mid40s, warming to the 50s by Saturday. Lows during the period will be in the 20s.

The average daily high here at this time of year is around 60 and the overnight low between 35 and 40.