Dangerous Cold Engulfs Minnesota, Warning and Advisory Issued
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Dangerously cold wind chills have engulfed all of Minnesota following a major snow storm that battered southeast Minnesota Friday.
The bitter cold snap follows a major winter storm that dropped several inches of snow on the region. The bone-chilling temperatures and wind chills are predicted to last for several days.
A Windchill Advisory is in place for the majority of Minnesota’s counties including Olmsted, Dodge, Goodhue, Fillmore, Mower, Houston, Wabasha, Winona Counties until noon on Tuesday.
A Windchill warning that was in place for Mower County turned into a Windchill Advisory at 10 a.m. Sunday. Several central and western Minnesota Counties, including Freeborn County, remain in a Windchill Warning that calls for "life-threatening windchills" of 30 to 40 degrees below zero.
The Wind Chill Advisory calls for windchills ranging from 20 to 35 below zero with the coldest temperatures and wind chills occurring overnight and during the early morning hours through Tuesday morning.
The dangerous cold has prompted Rochester Public Transit to activate its Warm Place To Be program, which offers free rides on heated buses for individuals wishing to escape the cold.
Officials say frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes during the extreme cold.
The National Weather Service advises Minnesotans to “Cover exposed skin. Wear several layers of clothing, hat and gloves. Protect pets from the cold, make sure they have fresh water. Limit outdoor exposure if possible.”
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Gallery Credit: Anuradha Varanasi
