When it comes to the temperature in the Twin Cities, it's all about nothing -- and even less than that.

The mercury has been steadily dropping in the metro area as Thursday morning drew to a close, with a reading of zero arriving shortly before 9 a.m., according to the National Weather Service (NWS). With winds from the north gusting to 28 miles per hour, the NWS said the windchill factor made it feel more like minus-22.

There's more snow on the way Thursday, the NWS added, but Twin Citians should expect no more than a half-inch.

Following an overnight low of 11 below Thursday night, a steady warmup is in the Weather Service's forecast through the weekend that could flirt with 30.

The ebbs and flows of the season continue to disrupt the St. Paul Winter Carnival's schedule. The extreme cold has put the kibosh on Thursday night's music at Rice Park as well as shut down the Ice Bar, which is just what the title suggests: a bar made of ice where Minnesota-made Summit beer and Cannon River Winery wines are served.

Earlier this week, the carnival announced that the sled dog races scheduled for this weekend on Bald Eagle Lake in White Bear Township had to be canceled because of a lack of snow.

Elsewhere in Minnesota, travelers in the northwestern part of the state welcomed the reopening of Hwy. 2 at about 8 a.m., the major connection between East Grand Forks and Crookston. The highway had been closed because blowing snow had cut visibility to near zero, according to the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office.

Still, the Sheriff's Office added, winds were still whipping around the snow, creating drifts on top of icy road surfaces.

There were several school closings and delayed starts away from the metro area. Among those closing: Browns Valley, Hancock, Mankato, Montevideo and Morris. Two-hour delays were called in Canby, Hutchinson, New London-Spicer, Tracy and others.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482