RAPID CITY, S.D. — Extreme Cold Warnings were in effect early Friday across large portions of the northern Plains, with dangerously low wind chills posing a serious risk of frostbite, according to the National Weather Service.
In northwestern South Dakota, wind chills were expected to plunge as low as 45 degrees below zero through noon Mountain Time, affecting Harding, Perkins and Ziebach counties, including communities such as Lemmon, Dupree, Buffalo and Camp Crook.
Farther east, an Extreme Cold Warning remained in place until 9 a.m. Central Time across parts of eastern South Dakota, northwest and west-central Iowa, southwest Minnesota and northeast Nebraska, including the cities of Sioux Falls, Sioux City, Yankton, Vermillion and Spirit Lake. Wind chills in those areas were forecast to reach 38 to 40 below zero.
Additional warnings were set to continue until late Friday morning in portions of southwest Minnesota and east-central South Dakota, where wind chills could drop as low as 43 below. A Cold Weather Advisory was scheduled to follow later in the day as conditions slowly improve but remain dangerous.
Meteorologists warned that frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes under these conditions. Officials urged residents to limit time outdoors, dress in multiple layers and cover exposed skin.
Travelers were also advised to use caution, as extreme cold can affect vehicles and emergency response times. Temperatures are expected to gradually moderate heading into the weekend, though cold conditions will persist across much of the region.
