Minneapolis residents are facing a spell of dangerously low temperatures and hazardous wind chills that have prompted official advisories from the National Weather Service. Today's partly sunny skies belie a biting cold with highs of just 6 degrees and wind chill values plummeting to as low as -26, according to a forecast published by the National Weather Service. The northwest wind contributing to this chill is expected to continue blowing at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight, the cold tightens its grip even further with mostly cloudy skies and lows around -5 degrees, with wind chill values dangerously dipping to as low as -16. The National Weather Service also warns that "Bitter cold continues through Friday morning" with wind chills expected to drop between 20 to 30 degrees below zero by Thursday morning. Residents are warned to take extreme caution, as these conditions pose a real risk to health and safety.

The outlook through the weekend promises some relief, with a gradual warming trend beginning on Friday, resulting in sunny skies and a high near 20 degrees. According to the National Weather Service, the trend is expected to continue into the weekend, with partly sunny conditions and highs reaching 33 degrees on Saturday and possibly up to 41 degrees by Sunday.

Moreover, along with the cold, there is a Cold Weather Advisory in effect until 9 AM this morning, where "very cold wind chills as low as 34 below" could occur, according to the Hazardous Weather Outlook by the National Weather Service. These extreme temperatures could "cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes." The advisory reminds citizens to don appropriate clothing, including a hat and gloves, and to keep pets indoors as much as possible. It also urges to check frequently on vulnerable community members and to ensure that heating sources are being used correctly.

As we move further into the week, the forecast hints at a slight possibility of rain on Sunday night and Monday with merely a 20 percent chance. Overnight temperatures should also remain significantly above the frigid lows of the current cold snap, hovering around the more bearable 30s. While this cold weather spell holds the city in its grasp, residents are looking forward to the promise of a thaw as the week progresses.