CENTRAL ILLINOIS, Ill. (Chambana Today) — A blast of Arctic air tightened its grip on central Illinois early Sunday, driving wind chill values to dangerously low levels and prompting weather alerts across the region.

By mid-morning, “feels like” temperatures ranged from 20 to 25 degrees below zero in many communities, including Bloomington-Normal, Decatur, Springfield and Champaign. Even colder wind chills were reported in pockets of east-central Illinois, where bitter winds compounded already frigid air temperatures.

Forecasters warned that exposed skin could develop frostbite in as little as 10 to 15 minutes under these conditions. Residents were urged to avoid unnecessary travel, dress in multiple layers, and ensure pets and livestock were protected from the cold.

The extreme cold strained daily routines, forcing some event cancellations and creating hazardous conditions for motorists as vehicles struggled to start and icy patches lingered on untreated roads. Emergency officials also reminded residents to check on elderly neighbors and those without reliable heating.

While the cold snap was expected to persist through the morning hours, gradual improvement was forecast later in the day as winds eased slightly. Even so, temperatures were predicted to remain well below normal, keeping central Illinois locked in winter’s harshest conditions for at least another day.