Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Extreme cold warnings continue Tuesday with possible record lows

sea smoke on a lake
Twin water towers peek through sea smoke on Lake Superior the morning oof Jan. 21 as seen from the Lakewalk in Duluth.
Erica Dischino for MPR News

An extreme cold warning is in effect across the state of Minnesota from 9 pm Monday until 10 am Tuesday. Wind chills down to -35 to -48 could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as ten minutes.

Monday night among the coldest of the year

Temperatures will be approaching those of Jan. 21, which as of now, featured the coldest air this winter for much of Minnesota. Some of the lows observed on Jan. 21 included -19 at MSP, -27 for St. Cloud, Brainerd, and Duluth and -30 in International Falls. The coldest temp there this year was observed the day before at -34.

Map of Monday night's lows
Monday night will see many areas into the -20s.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

These lows will brush close to daily records in many areas. Some Feb. 18 record low temperatures are -21 for MSP, -25 in Duluth, -26 in St. Cloud, -27 in Brainerd and -30 in Alexandria.

Highs Tuesday stay in single digits above and below zero.

Map of Tuesday's highs
Tuesday's highs will be in single digits above and below zero.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

More advisories/warnings may be needed Tuesday into Wednesday

Additional cold weather advisories or extreme cold warnings may be needed Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as lows return to teens and 20s below zero. Wind chills in central and northern Minnesota will fall around -35.

Map of Tuesday night's lows
Tuesday night will be another cold one with lows in teens and 20s below zero.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Wednesday afternoon, we still look west near Alexandria where the subzero streak could continue. Much of the rest of the region tops off in single digits.

Map of Wednesday's highs
Wednesday will once again feature highs in single digits above and below zero.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

We will continue a gradual warming trend the rest of the week, but it will still be below zero across the state Friday morning.

Thursday night's lows
Temperatures fall below zero one last time Thursday night into Friday morning before a stronger trend toward warmth arrives.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Friday afternoon marks the start of a return to true relief. By Sunday, highs are expected to surpass freezing and even tap into some 40s.

Map of Sunday's highs
Highs will return to 30s and even 40s on Sunday.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Our cold week ahead will also be a dry one. A broad area of surface high pressure gradually meandering from Saskatchewan into the Central United States will deflect snow well to our south. The only flakes to fall in the Upper Midwest will be along Lake Superior’s South Shore.

Track of high pressure system
A broad area of high pressure keeps snow limited to lake effect on Lake Superior's South Shore through Wednesday.
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather