Summary (tl;dr)

Much of Minnesota, including the Minneapolis area, is under an extreme cold warning with dangerously low wind chills expected to plummet to -45 to -50 degrees Fahrenheit, prompting school closures and delays in affected regions.

Essential Background

An arctic air mass has been moving across the Upper Midwest, bringing strong winds and blowing snow that caused blizzard warnings in parts of Minnesota on Wednesday. This cold snap follows a recent period of slushy and slippery road conditions that led to school cancellations and delays earlier in January across central and southern Minnesota. The current extreme cold is part of a larger weather pattern that is "unlocking" significant cold air from the Arctic Circle, pushing it south.

The Full Story

"Extreme cold warnings" are in effect for virtually all of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metropolitan area (Minneapolis and St. Paul), from Thursday evening through Saturday morning. The National Weather Service forecasts wind chills as low as -35 to -50 degrees Fahrenheit, marking this as the coldest airmass to impact the Twin Cities since January 2019. Marshall area schools in southwest Minnesota already closed early on Wednesday due to strong winds and blowing snow, with more extensive cold-related closures anticipated as temperatures continue to drop. While no statewide mandate for school closures has been issued yet, wind chills falling to -45 degrees Fahrenheit could trigger such action, similar to past extreme cold events.

Why It Matters

These dangerously cold temperatures pose severe health risks, as frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. The widespread extreme cold warnings and associated school disruptions significantly impact daily life, travel, and public safety, prompting officials to urge residents to stay indoors and take precautions when outside. Furthermore, this cold front is part of a larger "generational" winter storm impacting a vast stretch of the central and eastern United States, raising concerns about power outages and treacherous travel conditions across multiple states.

Geographic Location

• Marshall, Lyon County, Minnesota, United States (schools closed early due to blizzard conditions and impending extreme cold)
• Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States (under extreme cold warning, schools have historically closed due to similar temperatures)
• Central Minnesota, Minnesota, United States (under extreme cold warning)
• Southwestern Minnesota, Minnesota, United States (under blizzard warning and extreme cold warning)
• Broader Minnesota, United States (widespread extreme cold warnings across multiple regions)