WARM WEATHER REPLACES RECORD LOW WEDNESDAY

Wednesday's frosty, record-low temperature at the airport will be temporarily replaced by unseasonably warmer temperatures on Friday, before more seasonable, cooler and drier air returns to the area for the weekend.

But the National Weather Service says above normal temperatures are expected to occur from mid-October to mid-November through much of the central and southeastern United States, including Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. Precipitation in the area is expected to average near normal, the weather service said.

Mid-America Weather Services at the Cape Girardeau airport reported a record low of 32 degrees on Wednesday. The previous record low for Oct. 16, 33 degrees, was set in 1977.

Wednesday's record low marked the coolest morning temperature so far this month and this fall at the airport, but was not a killing freeze, according to Al Robertson of the Earth science department at Southeast Missouri State University.

Robertson said a killing freeze occurs when the temperature falls to or below 30 degrees for a sustained time period.

The average date of the first killing freeze in the Cape Girardeau area is Oct. 31. Last year, it occurred on Oct. 26.

The weather service said a large dome of chilly Canadian air centered over the middle United States was responsible for Wednesday's record-low temperature at Cape Girardeau, and several other midwestern cities.

Robertson said the average temperature for the first half of October, 60.4 degrees, is down two degrees from the long-term average of 62.4 degrees. He said rainfall this month is also running behind the seasonal average. The airport has recorded .90 of an inch of rain during the first half of the month. The long-term average for the first 15 days is 1.5 inches.

Friday's outlook calls for highs to reach into the lower 80s in Southeast Missouri. Lows Saturday will be in the 40s. Highs Saturday and Sunday will be in the seasonable 70s.

Little, if any, rain is expected this weekend.