Schools close as dangerous cold grips Minnesota

Many schools are closed or switching to online learning Friday, Jan. 23, but protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in Minnesota are set to go on despite bitter cold that could have even the hardiest of Minnesotans shiver.

The coldest air since 2019 invaded the Twin Cities and all of the state overnight, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a warning about the dangerous conditions that include subzero temperatures and windchill values reaching as low as 50 below.

“Dress in layers, including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must go outside,” the Weather Service said. The low windchills can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as few as 10 minutes, the Weather Service added.

The severe cold is forecast to hang around for days. The extreme cold warning is expected to end by mid-Friday morning, the Weather Service said.

Readings at 5 a.m. included minus 21 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, minus 22 at Lakeville and Lake Elmo, minus 23 in St. Cloud, minus 29 in Park Rapids and Duluth, and minus 32 at the “Nation’s Icebox,” International Falls. The coldest place in Minnesota was Ely at 33 below.

The “warmest” spot? Canby and Granite Falls at a “balmy” 17 below, according to Weather Service reports.

Add in windchill and it feels even colder at Grand Marais, which checked in with a reading of minus 57. In the Twin Cities, the windchill reading was minus 44 degrees, the Weather Service said.

Metro Mobility asked its riders to cancel nonessential trips.

The big chill is not expected to stop protests planned to push back against ICE enforcement in Minnesota. A rally at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Terminal 1 is planned for 10 a.m. Friday.

“Come tell the MAC [the Metropolitan Airports Commission] to stop deportations out of our home airport,” said a social media post by 55101 Minnesota, the local chapter of a grassroots effort to resist President Trump’s policies and protect democracy. “Join us to uphold the Constitution and end executive overreach.”

Delta Air Lines sent text messages to passengers warning them of possible traffic congestion and to arrive extra early and consider using public transportation.

Another rally will take place at 2 p.m. Friday in downtown Minneapolis, with a march from the Commons by U.S. Bank Stadium to inside Target Center.

At the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships, Friday games have been called off, but Saturday and Sunday tilts on Lake Nokomis are still on. The Winter Carnival has called off its food truck festival for Friday, “but we hope everyone can join us for indoor events,” the carnival, marking its 140th year, said. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board canceled Saturday’s Lake Harriet Kite Festival because of the cold.

Other businesses will close Friday, but not because of the frigid weather. Businesses across Minnesota will shutter temporarily Jan. 23 as part of an economic blackout intended to show support for immigrant workers, customers and neighbors who have been the target of federal agents.

Schools giving students the day off because of arctic conditions include St. Paul, Anoka-Hennepin, Roseville, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan, Forest Lake, Edina, Stillwater, Minnetonka and Orono in the metro area. In Greater Minnesota, Duluth, Brainerd, Owatonna, Red Wing and Rochester are among the districts calling off school.

Districts such as Alexandria, Elk River, St. Cloud, Hibbing and Willmar have called an e-learning day. Moorhead plans to open two hours late.

Minneapolis had already scheduled Friday as an off-day for students for “teacher record keeping day.”