Frostbite Possible In 10 Minutes As Wind Chills Drop Near -30: MN Weather

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN — A brief round of light snow and freezing rain Friday morning will give way to increasingly dangerous cold across the Twin Cities, with wind chills plunging well below zero through the weekend.

The National Weather Service says a chance of snow and freezing rain continued early Friday, mainly before 10 a.m., with little or no ice accumulation expected. Snow totals were expected to remain under a half inch. While accumulations are light, the timing created slick spots during the morning commute.

Temperatures are expected to fall through the day Friday, with the high near 19 degrees occurring in the morning. Gusty west-northwest winds of 15 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph, will drive wind chills down to around 13 below zero by afternoon.

Much colder conditions arrive Friday night and Saturday as an arctic air mass settles over the region. A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect from midnight Friday night through Sunday morning.

Overnight lows are expected to drop to around 6 below zero Friday night, with wind chills near 24 below. Saturday will be mostly cloudy but bitterly cold, with highs near zero and wind chills as low as 25 below.

The coldest stretch is expected Saturday night into Sunday morning, when lows fall to around 15 below zero and wind chills could reach 30 to 31 below zero.

Sunday remains cold but quiet, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 6 degrees. Winds will turn southerly Sunday night, allowing temperatures to slowly rise.

A gradual warmup begins early next week. Highs are expected to reach the mid 20s Monday, climb into the upper 30s by Tuesday, and remain in the 30s through midweek. Another chance of mixed precipitation may arrive Wednesday night.

Forecasters warn that frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes during the coldest periods. Residents are urged to limit time outdoors, dress in layers, and check on vulnerable neighbors and pets.

Here's the full NWS forecast from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport:

Today: A chance of snow and freezing rain, mainly before 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 8 by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as -13. Blustery, with a west northwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around -6. Wind chill values as low as -24. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny and cold, with a high near 0. Wind chill values as low as -25. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around -15. Wind chill values as low as -31. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 6. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a temperature rising to around 10 by 4am. South wind 10 to 15 mph.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 25. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the evening.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. South wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday Night: A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. South wind around 15 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 30. West northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.