Much of central, east-central, south-central, and southeast Minnesota, as well as northwest and west-central Wisconsin, are still under a Cold Weather Advisory until 10 a.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service’s Twin Cities/Chanhassen office.
Wind chills in the broader advisory area, which includes Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, Washington, Chisago, Dakota, Nicollet, Rice, Goodhue, Waseca, Steele, Freeborn, and adjacent Wisconsin counties like Polk, Barron, Rusk, Dunn, Pepin, Eau Claire, St. Croix, Pierce, and Chippewa, can drop to 35 degrees below zero in as little as 10 minutes.
Brown, Watonwan, Martin, Faribault, Lac Qui Parle, Yellow Medicine, and Redwood counties will be under a separate advisory from 6 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday, with wind chills forecast to plunge to 30 below zero.
Wind chills will reach 35 degrees below zero in Douglas, Todd, Morrison, Mille Lacs, Kanabec, Stevens, Pope, Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Isanti, Swift, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Wright, Renville, and McLeod counties through Sunday morning.
Forecasters warn that the combination of freezing temperatures and stiff northwesterly winds may produce lethal circumstances for anyone outside without suitable protection. Frostbite and hypothermia can strike quickly, especially during the coldest hours: late tonight through early Sunday morning.
Residents are advised to dress in layers, cover exposed skin, limit time spent outside, and keep pets indoors. Those who do not have access to reliable heating should call 211 to find warming centers or emergency shelters.
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