Weather Alert Day: Coldest air retreats over the next 24 hours

MONDAY EVENING UPDATE:

After a second push of cold air that even brought a few snow flurries overnight, we are the coldest we've been amidst this stretch. Our wind chills as of Tuesday morning were as cold as 20 below. South winds keep us cold feeling, but warming today into the overnight hours. This has us considerably warmer on Wednesday, and likely out of Weather Alert Day cold.

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An ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Alert Day has been issued through Tuesday afternoon as dangerously cold temperatures are expected to set in for several days.

Strong northerly winds pick up across Mid-Missouri as arctic air spills into the country early this week. Cold air is locked in for several days, with morning lows falling into the single digits and highs in the mid to upper teens through Tuesday.

As the upper-level pattern flattens out midweek we'll see relief as temperatures get closer to our seasonal average in the mid-upper 30s.

Wind chills are expected to tumble to 10 to 20 degrees below zero by daybreak, with afternoon wind chills in the low single digits.

Extended exposure can cause frostbite at specific thresholds. While this won't be the coldest air Mid-Missouri has ever seen, it's important to keep extremities covered and limit your pet's time outdoors as well.

Protect your pipes from cracking or bursting overnight by opening cabinet doors and letting faucets drip. Heat your home to no lower than 55 degrees, even when you're not at home.

Track the hourly temperatures in your neighborhood by downloading the free ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather app.