The Twin Cities are bracing for a blast of arctic air that's set to bring dangerously low temperatures and wind chills to the region. Minneapolis residents will need to bundle up on M.L.King Day with forecasts predicting a high near a frigid -2 degrees and wind chills plunging to as low as -27, as per the National Weather Service. With the cold snap expected to persist into the week, officials are warning of the health risks associated with such extreme weather conditions.
As night falls, the mercury is tipped to drop further, hitting around -6 degrees, with the wind chill making it feel closer to -26. The brutal cold is set to continue, with Tuesday's high only slightly better at 5 degrees and similarly hazardous wind chill values. Residents have been advised to take all necessary precautions to guard against the cold, with advisories emphasizing the importance of wearing appropriate gear should they need to venture outdoors.
"Frigid wind chill values between 20 to 35 below zero are expected today and tonight." The advisory also highlights similar conditions for the upcoming days, with Tuesday morning in particular looking to be extremely cold. In these conditions, frostbite can occur "on exposed skin in as little as 15 minutes, according to the National Weather Service's Hazardous Weather Outlook.
The onslaught of the cold is not to just quickly pass; forecasts indicate that sub-zero temperatures will continue gripping the area into the latter part of the week, only slightly relenting by the weekend. A Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect, cautioning that residents may face "very cold wind chills" that could dip "as low as 30 below zero." Amid these warnings, the National Weather Service urges locals to don protective clothing, hats, and gloves to properly shield themselves from the risk of frostbite and hypothermia.
