Frigid temperatures on the way

FARMINGTON – The city of Farmington announced on Monday the opening of a daytime warming shelter beginning at 8 a.m. today at the Farmington Fire Department, located at 222 E. Columbia St.

The daytime shelter will be open during daytime hours until 7 p.m. on Thursday.

The need for an overnight shelter will be determined by the extent the cold weather affects the area and if there is a public need.

In Farmington, those individuals in immediate need of an overnight warming shelter should contact the Farmington Police Department at 573-756-6686 for arrangements.

Today may be the warmest for the next few days. Butch Dye with the National Weather Service in St. Louis said cold arctic air will arrive in the area tonight and remain until Thursday.

“Tuesday night’s temperature will be blustery and cold. The low temperature will be around 12 degrees, with winds from the northwest at 12 to 15 (miles per hour), with wind gusts around 30 miles per hour,” he said.

The cold temperatures continue on Wednesday with low wind chill factors.

“The high on Wednesday will be 14 degrees, dropping into the single digits in the afternoon,” Dye said. “Winds from the northwest will bring the windchill factor well below zero, with a low temperature Wednesday night of four below zero.”

Thursday calls for mostly sunny skies, with a high expected around 25 degrees.

“That’s going to be the trend into the weekend, as we head into the low 30’s by Saturday and Sunday,” he added. There is also a chance for snow this weekend.

On Monday, St. Francois County Sheriff Dan Bullock said no plans had been made to open the county’s warming shelters, “but shelters will be opened if the need arises.”

Bullock said the county uses local churches and the exhibit hall at the St. Francois County Fairgrounds as warming shelters.

Anyone who needs shelter should call St. Francois County Central Dispatch at 573-431-3131.

The city of Farmington has opened a daytime warming shelter in the training room of the Farmington Fire Department. The shelter will be available during daytime hours through 7 p.m. on Thursday, as a blast of arctic air makes its way into the Parkland.

The city of Farmington learned the results of a March survey completed by the Insurance Services Office (I.S.O.) showing the city as a Class 4/4x in its public protection class rating system. The city was last rated in 2000 when the rating was moved to a Class 4 and local officials are pleased with the results, noting the significant growth in the community for the past 15 years while services provided have remained at consistent levels.

Shawnna Robinson is the managing editor for the Farmington Press and can be reached at 573-756-8927 or srobinson@farmingtonpressonline.com