First there might be snow showers today and then the bottom will fall out of the thermometer, with wind chill levels in the 50 below to 60 below zero range into Saturday.
Several outdoor events already have been canceled for today and the weekend with officials warning that children and pets are especially vulnerable to the extreme cold.
Today's temperatures will stay below zero, with northwest winds blowing to 20 mph, creating wind chills during the day of 30 below and colder, the National Weather Service in Duluth forecast on Thursday.
By Saturday morning, low temperatures will plummet to near 25 below in Duluth, and more than 30 below north of the Iron Range, with northwest winds gusting to 30 mph, spurring wind chill values close to 60 below zero.
At that level exposed flesh can become frozen with frostbite in as little as five minutes.
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It's not going to improve much during the day on Saturday with high temperatures well below zero and winds gusting to 20 mph. Wind chill levels will remain at 40 below zero or colder.
A wind chill warning is expected to be issued for the entire region into Sunday.
Temperatures are expected to climb very slowly toward normal next week, with highs in the teens by Wednesday.
The wave of cold will spoil what had been a warmer than usual January. The month had averaged 10 degrees above normal through Wednesday, and 12 of the first 16 days of the month saw above average temperatures.
January remains unusually dry, with less than 3 inches of snow falling so far in Duluth through Thursday. The last significant snowfall of more than one inch was Dec. 26.
