Extreme Cold on the Northern Plains

Temperatures in Northern Minnesota could drop as far as -40 tonight as a polar air mass follows behind the winter storm that swept across the nation this week. Wind chills as low as -55 to -60 can be expected in areas where the temperature drops as low as -40. The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Cold Warning for much of Northern Minnesota.

Issued by The National Weather Service
Duluth, MN
3:24 pm CST, Thu., Jan. 20, 2011

... EXTREME COLD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CST FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DULUTH HAS ISSUED AN EXTREME COLD WARNING... WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CST FRIDAY.

* TEMPERATURE: TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO DROP TO AROUND 40 BELOW ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA OVERNIGHT AND THEN GRADUALLY IMPROVE FRIDAY MORNING. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME CALM OVERNIGHT.

* FROSTBITE TIMES: FROSTBITE AFFECTS EXPOSED SKIN OF A HEALTHY ADULT IN 10 TO 20 MINUTES. THE ELDERLY AND YOUNG CHILDREN ARE ESPECIALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE COLD.

* IMPACTS: FROSTBITE CAN LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. PETS AND LIVESTOCK ARE ALSO AFFECTED BY COLD TEMPERATURES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AN EXTREME COLD WARNING MEANS DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE- THREATENING EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME. FROSTBITE AND HYPOTHERMIA ARE LIKELY IN AS SHORT AS 10 TO 20 MINUTES IF YOU ARE EXPOSED TO THESE CONDITIONS WITHOUT PROPER PROTECTION. MAKE SURE YOU DRESS WITH SEVERAL LAYERS OF CLOTHES DESIGNED FOR EXTREME COLD CONDITIONS... AND AVOID SWEATING IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS AS THIS CAN LEAD TO A FASTER ONSET OF HYPOTHERMIA.

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