Duluth, MN — Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin are under an extreme cold warning until noon CST Tuesday, with wind chills plunging as low as 50 degrees below zero in some areas. The National Weather Service issued the alert for Crow Wing, Itasca, St. Louis, Carlton, Pine, Cook, Lake, and neighboring counties, as well as parts of northern Wisconsin.
According to the NWS, frostbite can occur on exposed skin in under 10 minutes in these conditions. Residents in affected areas, including tribal lands and the Boundary Waters, are urged to dress in layers and avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure.
The warning also extends to Wisconsin counties like Douglas, Bayfield, and Ashland, where wind chills may reach 40 below zero. Locations such as Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Madeline Island are included in the alert.
Precautions include keeping pets indoors, monitoring portable heater use, and avoiding the use of generators or grills indoors. Residents are encouraged to check on vulnerable neighbors and family members during the prolonged cold spell.
Temperatures are expected to improve slightly after noon Tuesday, but dangerously low wind chills remain a concern through the warning period.
