Extreme Cold Warning brings closures and advice on staying safe in a winter emergency

Kirsten Wisniewski | January 22, 2026

As the county braces for an exceptionally cold end to the week, some businesses and organizations have already announced plans to close or cancel events. The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Cold Warning for Cook County through Saturday, Jan. 24.

Thus far, the following organizations have announced a closure for Friday, Jan. 23 due to weather:

Cook County Schools has cancelled classes and after-school activities. The scheduled basketball game against Stella Maris Academy will be postponed.
Johnson Heritage Post and the Cook County History Museum will be closed on Friday. The History Museum will remain closed on Saturday and the Johnson Heritage Post will open at 12 p.m.
Lutsen Mountains is closed on Friday, with a potential delayed opening on Saturday
The Cook County Warming House & Ice Rinks will be closed on Friday.
Fisherman’s Daughter will be closed on Friday.
Grand Marais Public Library is expecting to maintain regular hours, but has rescheduled their Friday Night Reels program, moving it from Jan. 23 to Jan. 30.
Care Partners of Cook County’s office will be closed, but staff will be working from home and reachable by phone from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Hub cancelled activities on Friday, but will still be delivering Meals on Wheels.
Split Rock Lighthouse will be closed on Friday.
Grand Portage National Monument will be closed on Friday.
All Superior National Forest Service Offices are closed on Friday and should open as normal on Monday.
Trail Center Lodge closed their restaurant on Friday, citing equipment issues. The store remains open.

WTIP will update this list as further closures are announced. Additional businesses that are closed as part of the Day of Truth and Freedom economic pause can be found here or at the bottom of this page.

Extreme cold weather can be made even more dangerous by infrastructure failure, like a power outage. Cook County Emergency Manager Mike Keyport said that when individual homes experience an outage, or something like a broken furnace makes it dangerous to stay at home, people should contact Public Health and Human Services, or, in an after-hours emergency, the Sheriff’s office for guidance on resources that might be available. In cases of widespread outages, or when many people are displaced for any number of reasons, Keyport said he works with PHHS to determine when and where to open a shelter.

Across the county there are several generated buildings that can serve as emergency shelters. On the west end, the Lutsen Town Hall is a designated emergency shelter. For Grand Portage and east end residents, the Grand Portage Community Center can be opened in an emergency. Up the Gunflint Trail, Keyport said that historically the fire halls have served as emergency shelters. In Grand Marais, both the Cook County YMCA and Community Center can be used as a shelter, though Keyport added that both rely on the City of Grand Marais emergency generator in the event that there is a disruption to regular power.

In the event that an emergency shelter is opened, Keyport said that the county will send notices out to local media, and post to the county’s social media to help get the word out.

Power loss is not the only risk during winter weather. Keyport encouraged everyone to check their carbon monoxide detecters, and be sure that the air intake and exhaust system on their home is clear of obstructions, like snow. He warned that they can easily be blocked, which can then lead to a buildup of the toxic gas inside a home. Carbon monoxide is both colorless and odorless, and can be deadly if too much is inhaled.

Keyport also said that in a cold weather emergency, having a plan is key. This could be planning an alternative heat source in the event of a furnace failure, or establishing where you will go in case of a prolonged power outage. He advised county residents to create emergency kits for both their homes and cars, including a “go-bag” in case they need to leave their home.

For those who want guidance on how to create a plan, Keyport suggested the Read.gov website. That site includes downloadable documents outlining different plans, including worksheets that can be filled in to personalize a plan.

One last cold weather warning that Keyport gave was to be especially aware of cold limits for pets, and making sure that they are spending any time outside safely.

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke with Emergency Manager Mike Keyport about winter emergency preparedness. Audio of that interview is below.