Extreme cold blasts Minnesota; MSP hits −21°F, wind chills −47°F
An arctic blast plunged Minnesota into dangerous cold Thursday night into Friday, with Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport bottoming out at −21°F Friday morning and wind chills near −47°F; other reported lows included Ely −35°F, International Falls −32°F (wind chill −52°F) and Duluth −29°F (wind chill −53°F), making this one of the coldest episodes since late January 2019. An Extreme Cold Warning was in effect from Thursday evening to noon Friday (followed by an Extreme Cold Watch through Saturday and a cold‑weather advisory through midnight Friday), with Twin Cities temperatures forecasted to fall from about 6°F at noon Thursday to roughly −19°F by 7 a.m. Friday, producing wind chills around −40°F and prompting warnings that frostbite can occur in as little as 15 minutes and urging pet and public‑safety precautions.
📌 Key Facts
- An Extreme Cold Warning was in effect from Thursday evening through Friday noon; that warning was followed by a Cold Weather Advisory through midnight Friday and an Extreme Cold Watch through Saturday.
- Twin Cities air temperatures fell from about 6°F at noon Thursday to −10°F by 7 p.m. Thursday and to roughly −19°F by 7 a.m. Friday.
- Forecasts called for wind chills around −40°F Friday morning and a Friday high in the metro that would not exceed −8°F.
- Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport recorded an actual low of −21°F Friday morning with a wind chill of −47°F — among the coldest readings since late January 2019.
- Statewide extreme wind chills included Duluth at −53°F and International Falls at −52°F, and dozens of Minnesota and western Wisconsin sites reported very low actual temperatures (examples: Ely −35°F, International Falls −32°F, Duluth −29°F).
- News coverage noted this cold snap is comparable to the severe cold in late January 2019.
- Safety guidance was emphasized: frostbite can occur in as little as 15 minutes in these conditions, and the reports included practical recommendations for protecting pets and people.
📊 Relevant Data
In greater Minnesota, 24% of the homeless population identifies as Native American, while Native Americans constitute approximately 0.86% of Minnesota's overall population.
Single Night Count of People Experiencing Homelessness — Minnesota House of Representatives
In Hennepin County, Black households comprise 68.6% of unique households receiving RentHelp assistance in 2024, while Black residents make up approximately 13% of the county's population.
Needs Assessment Report — Hennepin County
Minnesota had 9,201 people experiencing homelessness in 2024, with 22.6% unsheltered.
2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms MSP Airport bottomed out at −21°F Friday morning with a wind chill of −47°F, among the coldest readings since January 2019.
- Lists statewide extreme wind chills, including Duluth at −53°F and International Falls at −52°F, along with a detailed rank of many Minnesota and western Wisconsin sites.
- Provides specific actual low temperatures at dozens of locations (e.g., Ely −35°F, International Falls −32°F, Duluth −29°F), and notes this cold snap is comparable to late January 2019.
- Clarifies that an extreme cold warning was in effect until noon Friday, followed by a cold weather advisory through midnight, and outlines the weekend and early‑week temperature outlook for the Twin Cities.
- Confirms an Extreme Cold Warning from Thursday evening to Friday noon, followed by an Extreme Cold Watch through Saturday.
- Specifies Twin Cities air temperatures dropping from about 6°F at noon Thursday to -10°F by 7 p.m., then to roughly -19°F by 7 a.m. Friday.
- Forecasts wind chills around -40°F Friday morning and a Friday high in the metro that will not exceed -8°F.
- Provides explicit frostbite timing guidance (possible in as little as 15 minutes) and practical pet‑safety recommendations tied to these conditions.