Luminary Loppet planned for weekend rescheduled due to extremely cold temperatures

The Luminary Loppet event planned for this weekend has been rescheduled due to extremely cold temperatures that are expected over the weekend.

Those planning to participate in the event that was scheduled for Saturday and Sunday will be able to take part on Thursday and Friday night, according to the Loppet Foundation.

"The weather forecasts for this weekend are trending towards dangerously low temperatures. With COVID-19 protocols in place preventing groups of people from huddling together near fires or inside The Trailhead and preventing us from distributing warm hot chocolate like in past years, we have come to the conclusion today that it would be unfair and dangerous for us to subject our participants, and our volunteers who spend hours outside to make the event happen, to such harsh conditions," the Loppet Foundation said in a statement.

Mild Wednesday, but snow, bitter cold headed toward Twin Cities in coming days

The Luminary Loppet allows participants to travel the luminary-lit ski trails at Theodore Wirth Park.

According to KSTP Chief Meteorologist Ken Barlow, temperatures are expected to drop to the low teens on Friday.

Saturday and Sunday will be even colder, with wind chills consistently below zero. The wind chill could get down to minus 30 early Sunday morning. The high temperature is forecast to remain below zero degrees on Sunday.