Temperatures in the teens below zero greeting Twin Cities residents Friday morning, and colder readings than that elsewhere in the state were either delaying classes for students or giving them a three-day weekend.

Shortly before 7 a.m., the National Weather Service (NWS) reported a temperature of minus 13 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Even a modest wind speed of 5 miles per hour pushed what the frigid air felt like down to 25-below.

The folks in Bigfork, about halfway between Grand Rapids and International Falls, were greeted with a wake-up temperature of minus 35, the NWS reported. Closer to a large population center, it was 21-below in Duluth.

What schools are doing has become the canary in the "cold" mine, when it comes to taking the temperature of a deep freeze. Dozens of schools across the state are waiting a couple of hours before compelling kids to head outside. A handful of others are just imposing a four-day week and anticipating temperatures in the 20s come Monday.

Among those shortening Friday's day: Alexandria, Bemidji, Litchfield and St. Peter. One metro district, Jordan, joins that list. The list of those closed for the day includes the Red Lake School District.

The Weather Service does see warmer days ahead, but decent chances of snow as well, into next week. A high of 5 is in the forecast for today, then 17 on Saturday, 16 and sunny on Sunday and 23 on Monday.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482