Extreme cold warning: Twin Cities wind chills –40°F Thursday–Friday
An Extreme Cold Warning is in effect for the Twin Cities from Thursday evening through Friday noon, followed by an Extreme Cold Watch through Saturday. Forecasts call for air temperatures to fall from about 6°F at noon Thursday to roughly −19°F by 7 a.m. Friday with wind chills near −40°F (Friday’s high not expected to exceed −8°F), making frostbite possible in as little as 15 minutes and prompting strong pet‑safety precautions.
📌 Key Facts
- An Extreme Cold Warning is in effect for the Twin Cities from Thursday evening through Friday noon, followed by an Extreme Cold Watch through Saturday.
- Twin Cities air temperatures are forecast to fall from about 6°F at noon Thursday to roughly -10°F by 7 p.m., then to about -19°F by 7 a.m. Friday.
- Wind chills are expected to be around -40°F Friday morning; the Friday high in the metro is not expected to exceed -8°F.
- Officials warn that frostbite can occur in as little as 15 minutes under these extreme cold and wind‑chill conditions.
- Guidance includes practical pet‑safety recommendations to protect animals during the extreme cold.
📊 Relevant Data
The National Weather Service replaced wind chill warnings with extreme cold warnings in 2024 to simplify hazard communication and emphasize that cold temperatures are dangerous regardless of the presence of wind.
HAZARD SIMPLIFICATION — National Weather Service
In Minnesota, people experiencing homelessness have a mortality rate three times higher than the general population, increasing their vulnerability to extreme cold events.
Mortality Rates for Minnesota's Homeless Three Times Higher Than General Population — Listening House
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- 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.