Duluth, Minnesota – Life-threatening Arctic cold is set to grip northern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin beginning late Wednesday night, with wind chills cold enough to cause frostbite in just minutes and hazardous conditions expected to last through the weekend. Officials are urging residents to prepare now as the cold intensifies rapidly.
According to the National Weather Service in Duluth, an Extreme Cold Warning is in effect late Wednesday night through Thursday for far northern Minnesota, including International Falls, Ely, Isabella, and areas near Voyageurs National Park. Wind chills are expected to drop as low as 40 to 42 below zero during that period. A broader Extreme Cold Watch then expands Thursday evening through Saturday morning for much of northeastern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin, where wind chills could fall as low as 45 to 50 below zero.
Duluth, Hibbing, Grand Rapids, Brainerd, Two Harbors, Grand Marais, Ashland, Superior, and surrounding communities will experience dangerously cold conditions. Frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as five to ten minutes, especially overnight and during early morning hours. Travel may become hazardous as vehicles struggle to start and mechanical failures increase in extreme cold.
Residents are urged to avoid prolonged outdoor exposure, dress in multiple layers, and fully cover exposed skin with hats, gloves, and face protection. Pets should be kept indoors, and frequent checks are encouraged for elderly neighbors and anyone without reliable heat. Portable heaters should be used safely, and generators or grills should never be used indoors.
Additional cold weather headlines are likely into early next week as the Arctic air mass remains entrenched. Dangerous cold is expected to persist through Saturday morning, with conditions remaining closely monitored across the Northland.
