Extreme cold settles over Northland, wind chills as low as 50 below expected

An extended stretch of extreme cold is settling in across northern Minnesota, with dangerous wind chills expected across much of the state in the days ahead.

Temperatures are expected to reach 25 below zero in Grand Marais and closer to 35 below zero up the Gunflint Trail and across the inland Arrowhead region on Friday morning.

“The actual coldest temperatures we’ll see will be probably Friday into Saturday morning,” said Jonathan Wolfe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Duluth.

Late Thursday night and into Friday morning, the Northland region will experience high winds, bringing the already negative temperatures to dangerously cold levels.

Wolfe said the blustery, “wicked” conditions will drive wind chill values down to between 55 and 60 below zero on Friday.

The National Weather Service has issued an extreme cold warning in effect from Thursday at noon to Saturday at noon for areas across northern Minnesota. Dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes.

Brutal Cold Expected Across Northland | National Weather Service

The National Weather Service advises people to limit time outdoors during the coldest temperatures and wind chills, and to dress in layers if venturing outside.

Residents, schools, and businesses are preparing for conditions that could linger through the end of the week. With the expected extreme cold temperatures, ISD 166 and several Cook County businesses are preparing to close.

A list of Cook County business and school closures, along with event cancellations due to the extreme weather, is below. WTIP will continue to update this list as more information becomes available.

• Due to extremely cold weather, Cook County Schools has cancelled all after school activities today, Thursday, Jan. 22 including ECFE, Community Education classes, and the School Board meeting. Cook County Schools will also be closed tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 23. There will be no school district classes or activities tomorrow.
• Johnson Heritage Post and the Cook County History Museum will be closed Friday, Jan. 23 due to the forecasted extreme cold weather and for the safety of their staff and guests. Both locations are expected to reopen Saturday at 10 a.m.
• Lutsen Mountains will be closed Thursday, Jan. 22 and Friday, Jan. 23. Lutsen Mountains added in a Facebook post that opening delays may occur on Saturday.
• The Grand Marais Death Cafe gathering at The Hub is cancelled for Thursday, Jan. 22
• The Cook County Co-op will open late at 10 a.m. on Friday
• The Cook County Warming House & Ice Rinks will be closed Thursday and Friday due to the cold temperatures
• Fisherman’s Daughter will be closed Friday
• The Grand Marais Library shared in a Thursday Facebook post that the library is currently planning to maintain regular business hours, but adjustments may be necessary depending on weather and safety conditions. The public is encouraged to call the library to verify if it is open before visiting.

Send your weather-related closings and delays to news@wtip.org.

Several other Cook County businesses have announced Friday closures in connection with the Day of Truth and Freedom, a coordinated action intended to draw attention to opposition to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in the state. Participating businesses say the effort is meant to highlight concerns about ICE’s presence and impact. The following businesses have announced they will be closed on Friday in observance of the Day of Truth and Freedom.

• The Big Lake & Lady Superior Bottle Shop will be closed Friday
• Upstate MN will be closed Friday
• Poplar Haus will be closed Friday
• Joy & Company will be closed Friday
• Betsy Bowen Studio will be closed Friday
• Java Moose will be closed Friday
• Points Unknown will be closed Friday
• Drury Lane Books will be closed Friday

WTIP’s CJ Heithoff spoke with Jonathan Wolfe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service-Duluth about the expected extreme cold temperatures. The audio from the interview is below.

Kalli Hawkins January 22, 2026