There is a statewide extreme cold warning in place across most of Minnesota, southern and eastern Minnesota, and western Wisconsin, as temperatures plummet and create dangerous cold conditions throughout the state.
Bitter Temperatures and Dangerous Wind Chills
Sunday’s heat peaked at around 8 degrees, but the wind was even more frigid. In the Twin Cities, the feels-like temperature reached -8, and will be down to -20 tonight. Northern Minnesota is experiencing even lower temperatures, with wind chills expected to be 50 below zero.
The National Weather Service posted an extreme cold warning and said that air temperatures will be between -10 and -20, and wind chills will drop to -35 to -45 over much of the state. Hazardously cold wind chills, to 45 below zero in parts of some northern counties, are expected. Those temperatures would produce frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
President’s Day Forecast
President’s Day will be extremely cold but sunny. Temps will remain below zero through the afternoon, and wind chills will make it feel even colder. Wind chill temps will vary from 15 to 25 below zero, and high temps across the state will remain below zero. High of -2 degrees in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
School Closures and Delays
Some districts have decided to close or cancel school on Monday due to the extreme cold. With wind-chill factors dipping as low as -45 degrees Fahrenheit, there is significant risk of frostbite on exposed skin in a time frame of less than ten minutes. While most schools in the state traditionally celebrate Presidents’ Day as a holiday, some institutions that initially scheduled to remain open are now debating cancelling or delaying their sessions on Monday. An extreme cold watch is still in effect until 11 a.m. Tuesday, encompassing the Twin Cities, where wind chills will drop as low as -30 degrees.
Looking Ahead
The dangerously cold temperatures will continue through Tuesday3. Wind chill temperatures on Tuesday morning will be 35 to 50 below zero3. But temperatures should start to slowly warm up after Tuesday, and by Sunday temperatures will be in the upper 30s. There is to be a bit of warm-up arriving Thursday leading into the weekend, when temperatures will get back closer to normal — about 30 degrees.
Safety Precautions
Minnesotans are encouraged to be careful to stay safe during the freezing cold. If you must go outside, dress in layers, including a hat, face mask, and gloves.
Handling the Freeze
As Minnesota battles this bout of record-breaking cold, residents are encouraged to stay aware, take precautions, and put safety first. With dangerously low temperatures and possibly life-threatening wind chills blanketing the state, limiting outdoor exposure and layering up are crucial. While the cold temperatures are expected to persist through Tuesday, a gradual warming trend is in the offing, offering a glimmer of hope for relief by the weekend.
Meanwhile, cities are coming together to support those in need, prioritizing visits to vulnerable neighbors and ensuring that all have warm shelter on hand to weather this challenging period. By staying vigilant and acting as a community, Minnesota can weather this record cold and emerge more resilient as a result.
