NWS Sounds Alarm as Wind Chills Crash Across Minnesota

Minnesota is home to several of the coldest cities in the United States, but the Arctic air gripping the state today is something residents haven’t experienced in years.

Scroll to the bottom of this story to see where Rochester ranks among the coldest cities in the country, and read on for details about the Extreme Cold Warningin effect for Olmsted County and much of southeast Minnesota.

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School Closings for Friday, January 23, 2026

Most area school districts in southeast Minnesota, including Rochester Public Schools, have canceled classes for the day due to the dangerous cold. Some districts have shifted to e-learning to keep students safe.

What Is an Extreme Cold Warning?

Longtime Minnesotans may be more familiar with terms like Wind Chill Watch or Wind Chill Warning, but those alerts are no longer used. In 2024, NOAA announced it would replace wind chill alerts with Extreme Cold Watch, Warning, and Advisory to simplify winter hazard messaging and improve public understanding.

The new term hasn’t been used very often since the change in 2024, but today’s weather clearly meets the criteria.

An Extreme Cold Warning remains in effect for Olmsted County and surrounding areas until noon today as a brutal Arctic air mass settles over the region.

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures and wind chills have not reached these levels since 2019, with wind chills plunging to 40 to 50 degrees below zero.

At those extremes, frostbite can occur on exposed skin within 10 minutes.
Residents are urged to avoid outdoor travel whenever possible and to cover exposed skin if they must be outside fully.

Statement from the National Weather Service: "EXTREME COLD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY. COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 3 AM CST SATURDAY.

•  WHAT...For the Extreme Cold Warning, dangerously cold wind chills
  as low as 45 below. For the Cold Weather Advisory, very cold wind
  chills as low as 34 below are expected.
• WHERE...In Iowa, Floyd, Mitchell, Chickasaw, and Howard Counties.
  In Minnesota, Dodge, Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona
  Counties.
• WHEN...For the Extreme Cold Warning, until noon CST today. For the
  Cold Weather Advisory, from noon today to 3 AM CST Saturday.
• IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 45 below zero
  could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.