Arctic Cold Snap To Follow Snow In St. Michael To Start 2022

ST. MICHAEL, MN — 2022 is set to get off to a frigid start in St. Michael, which is seeing its coldest weather since February.

Days after a storm dropped several inches of snow on the Twin Cities metro, an arctic blast is expected to make temperatures plunge close to zero for the New Year's holiday weekend.

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook Thursday for much of central and southern Minnesota, with forecasts showing wind chill values of negative 20 degrees Friday. Wind chill values could reach as low as negative 35 degrees over the weekend, the NWS said.

The high temperature on New Year's Eve in St. Michael is expected to be about 12 degrees, so don't plan on doing any outdoor final countdowns and champagne sipping without layers.

Up to an inch of snow could fall Friday afternoon in St. Michael, the NWS said.

Temperatures are expected to drop to negative 10 on Friday night, with wind chill values around negative 24, according to NWS forecasts.

High temperatures on New Year's Day will reach negative 2, with a low around negative 17 degrees Saturday night, the NWS said.

High temperatures are forecast to climb into the 20s for the first week of 2022.

The National Weather Service has issued a number of extreme cold safety tips, including minimizing travel whenever possible; keeping a winter survival kit inside your vehicle; checking tire pressure, antifreeze levels, and the heater and defroster in your car; and shutting off water valves for potential pipe bursts.

Here is the National Weather Service's forecast for the New Year's holiday weekend:

Thursday
A slight chance of snow before 11 a.m., then flurries likely between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 22. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4. South southeast wind around 5 mph becoming north northwest after midnight.

Friday (New Year's Eve)
Snow likely, mainly between noon and 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 12. Wind chill values as low as -11. North northwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Friday night
Partly cloudy, with a low around -13. Wind chill values as low as -30. North northwest wind around 10 mph.

Saturday (New Year's Day)
Partly sunny and cold, with a high near -4. North northwest wind around 10 mph.

Saturday night
Partly cloudy, with a low around -20. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 6. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Sunday night
Mostly clear, with a low around -2. South wind around 5 mph.

Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 23. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Monday night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 8. East southeast wind around 5 mph.