Mobile, Ala. – The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued hard freeze warnings and wind chill advisories effective across the region, as Gulf Coast residents brace for a record-setting wintry blast of dangerously cold air.

The arctic air mass will cover much of the mainland U.S., the likes of which has not occurred in two decades according to weather observers.

Severe cold of this nature is rare along the central Gulf Coast. The forecast from the Mobile NWS office calls for Monday night's temperatures and wind chills to rival only those recorded in 1926 and 1884.

Here's the complete statement issued Monday morning by NWS:

Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect from 9 PM this evening

to 9 am CST Tuesday...

* timing... from 9 PM Monday evening to 9 am Tuesday.

* Wind chills... around 2 to 6 degrees interior coastal

counties... and 5 to 10 degrees along the beaches.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Wind Chill Advisory means that very cold air and strong winds will combine to generate bitterly cold wind chills... less than 10 degrees. This will result in frostbite and lead to hypothermia if precautions

are not taken.

If you must venture outdoors... make sure you wear layered clothing... a hat... and gloves.