Cold snap sends temperatures plunging throughout Upper Midwest

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Ice cold

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For the first time this winter residents of the Upper Midwest have had to deal with an Arctic air mass and the below zero temperatures it has caused.

Most of Minnesota is under an extreme cold warning through noon today (Thurs). The National Weather Service used to issue wind chill warnings when temperatures and wind chills, combined, dropped to 30-degrees below zero. Meteorologist Chris Franks says extreme cold warnings are rare because the critieria is so could. Franks says an extreme cold warning is really about how it feels outside regardless of whether there is wind. A slight warm-up is expected this weekend.

Wisconsinites are shivering through their coldest morning of the winter. It got down to 13-below in Superior, Hayward, and Siren. And unlike yesterday, cold winds are blowing. Rhinelander and Marshfield had the state’s lowest wind-chill factors at minus-33 as of six this morning. Wind-chills were generally in the minus-teens-and-20’s in northern and central Wisconsin, and in the single digits and teens below in the south. Kenosha was the state’s warm spot with 17 degrees at six o’clock. The National Weather Service has issued a wind-chill advisory until noon for western and central parts of the Badger State. A lake effect snow advisory continues in Iron County until noon. And a winter storm watch has been posted for tomorrow, as up to a half-foot of snow is expected in southern Wisconsin with only a chance of light snow in the north. The cold temperatures are expected to continue at least through Saturday. It might get down to 20-below tonight in parts of the north.

A warmer than normal winter followed by extreme cold -- ingredients that could cause trouble ahead for Minnesota vegetation. Many areas of the state don't have much snow cover, meaning these cold temperatures will drive the frost line deeper. Master gardener Teri Knight says, as a result, spring rains might not drain into the soil as readily -- and flooding could be possible. She adds that lawns and perennials are suffering now too because of heaving in the ground, following the drastic change in temperature.

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