Warming trend expected after weekend as Kennett endures bitter cold

The Kennett area Tuesday night was covered in a blanket of fluffy, dry snow that a National Weather Service (NWS) forecaster said should be gone by Monday evening.

NWS Meteorologist Andy Sniezak said the Kennett area received four inches of the white stuff, and it should disappear after the weekend thanks to a slow warming trend.

"We have a co-op observer at Saint Francis, Arkansas, which is close to you at Kennett," Sniezak said. "They got four inches.

"Basically, we are expecting very cold weather for a while," he added. "There is a Cold Weather Advisory in effect until 10 a.m. Wednesday. Temperatures will only be in the 20s."

On Wednesday night, the area experiences low temperatures, around 7 degrees, with wind issues that create a sub-zero impact, the meteorologist said.

"We're expecting wind chills between 5 and 7 degrees below zero by Thursday morning," Sniezak said. "We'll start to see a slow warming trend beginning Thursday with highs in the lower 20s.

"Friday morning temps should be between 5 and 10 degrees," he added. "With less wind. We're not as worried about wind chills then as we are Wednesday and Thursday morning."

However, Thursday is nearly a repeat of Wednesday, Sniezak noted.

"Then you'll also have another Cold Weather Advisory on Thursday," he said. "By Saturday, we'll see temperatures above freezing in the area.

"After the weekend, we're expecting highs of around 60," he continued. "So we'll see a slow warming trend the next couple of days and by the weekend, much milder temperatures. No precipitation is forecasted for the immediate future."

The NWS, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Dunklin County Sheriff's Office, Kennett Police Department, and other municipal police agencies advise to stay off roads if possible, take outdoor pets inside, or provide warmer shelters, and everyone, stay warm and dry.

Warming Centers are available at Kennett's Safe Haven, 1201 Ely St.; Hornersville's Community Building, until cold weather passes; and Malden's Nutrition Center at 117 E. Main St. until noon today.

The Missouri Dept. of Health and Senior Services designated all public libraries in the area as warming centers during their hours of operation.