United States
News Desk
Multiple extreme cold warning have been issued across parts of the United States as a powerful Arctic air mass drives temperatures well below normal and creates dangerously low wind chill forecasts, officials said. From Thursday through the weekend, National Weather Service offices in states including Wisconsin and Minnesota warned residents to prepare for conditions that could pose serious health and safety risks.
The National Weather Service has activated extreme cold warning, a severe winter weather alert used when temperatures and wind chills reach levels that significantly elevate the risk of frostbite and hypothermia, according to the agency’s criteria. These alerts are part of a broader set of cold weather products that include extreme cold watches and cold weather advisories, each reflecting increasing certainty or severity of dangerously low temperatures.
In southeastern Wisconsin, an extreme cold warning will remain in effect from midnight Thursday until early Friday afternoon, with forecast wind chills as low as 40 degrees below zero in some areas, the National Weather Service in Milwaukee reported. Officials urged residents to limit outdoor exposure as frostbite can occur in minutes under such conditions.
Further west, central Minnesota faces a similar alert, with warnings covering counties from Aitkin to Mille Lacs and surrounding regions starting Thursday afternoon through Friday morning. The Duluth office noted wind chill values between 40 and 55 degrees below zero could develop, forcing extremely hazardous conditions for travel and outdoor work.
The extreme cold warnings come as part of an Arctic outbreak pushing frigid air southward from Canada, setting up one of the coldest air masses of the season across the northern U.S. meteorologists say. These events typically bring bitter temperatures alongside strong winds that intensify the feel of cold on exposed skin.
Local authorities and weather services continue to emphasize standard safety measures: dress in layers, cover exposed skin, check on vulnerable populations, and avoid unnecessary travel during peak cold hours. Shelters and warming centers are being readied in some communities to assist people with limited access to heat.
While extreme cold warnings are concentrated in the U.S. Midwest and Plains this week, other regions nationwide are also monitoring significant cold weather threats. Related winter storm watches and advisories accompany the system as forecasters refine details on snow, ice, and continued frigid conditions over the coming days.
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