Extreme wind chills expected throughout the weekend; record cold possible

Bitter cold is anticipated overnight and into Sunday morning across Minnesota and Wisconsin, and according to KSTP Meteorologist Jonathan Yuhas, we could be in for the coldest Valentine’s Day on record in the Twin Cities.

A wind chill warning will be in effect from 9 p.m. Saturday to 11 a.m. Sunday for all of central and southern Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin. Temperatures overnight are forecast to dip to minus 20, and wind chills at times could range from 25 to 40 degrees below zero.

The high temperature on Sunday is projected at minus 6 degrees, and the low could get as cold as minus 25 — both of those would be record cold temperatures. Wind chills could get down to minus 50 Sunday night.

According to Yuhas, the frigid wind chills carry a high risk of frostbite. Such extreme cold can also cause pipes to freeze and burst, and car exhaust can freeze on the roads, creating slick conditions on roads and bridges.

Vehicle batteries older than five years old are at risk of failure starting at minus 15 degrees, and drivers are advised to keep at least half a tank of gas in their cars, Yuhas said.

The air will gradually get warmer starting Monday, but the temperature isn’t expected to get above zero until Tuesday. Some flurries are possible starting in the middle of the week.