Dozens of Minnesota schools to dismiss early Wednesday for storm
FOX 9 reports that dozens of Minnesota school districts, including some in and around the Twin Cities, are closing early on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026 because of an incoming winter storm. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for southwestern Minnesota and a winter weather advisory for western Minnesota Wednesday afternoon, with visibility expected to drop to near zero at times in the blizzard zone. After the snow, temperatures across the state will plunge, with an extreme cold warning in effect from 5 p.m. Thursday through 11 a.m. Friday, bringing subzero air temps and dangerous wind chills. The station is maintaining a running list of districts altering schedules and is urging families to monitor official school communications and use the FOX 9 weather app for hyperlocal warnings while planning for both the early dismissals and the sharp cold snap that follows.
đ Key Facts
- Date: Early dismissals are scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
- Weather alerts: Blizzard warning for southwestern Minnesota, winter weather advisory for western Minnesota Wednesday afternoon.
- Extreme cold: An extreme cold warning runs from 5 p.m. Thursday through 11 a.m. Friday for much of Minnesota, with subzero temperatures and dangerous wind chills expected.
đ Relevant Data
In St. Paul, Minnesota, from 2015-2019, Black individuals comprised 16.1% of the population but 20.0% of traffic fatalities, while American Indian individuals comprised 0.8% of the population but 4.4% of traffic fatalities.
Safe Streets for All - Appendix A Crash Analysis â Saint Paul Minnesota
In Minnesota, winter months produce more traffic crashes, but they are less severe and result in fewer deaths than crashes occurring during other months.
A Report on the State of Traffic Safety in Minnesota in 2023 â Minnesota TZD
During a two-day winter storm in December 2025, the Minnesota State Patrol reported 418 property damage crashes, 33 injury crashes, 37 spinouts, and 458 vehicles off the road statewide.
Minnesota State Patrol releases winter storm crash numbers â KTTC
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