More bitter cold expected overnight

Published 10:14 am Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Snow possible Saturday; storm trending east

Another day brought another warning of dangerous wind chills to southern Minnesota.

After Austin temperature bottomed out at 8 below zero with a minus 25 wind chill Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service was warning of similar cold conditions from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

Temperatures were only expected to climb to about 3 degrees Tuesday before falling again to around 8 below with wind chills ranging from 20 to 20 below zero overnight.

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Though a wind chill advisory expired at noon Tuesday, the weather service stated another would likely be issued for the looming overnight chill, though it hadn’t been issued as of 9:30 a.m.

The weather service warned of dangerous cold and urged people to avoid spending time outside. At wind chills between 15 and 30 below, frostbite can affect exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes, according to the weather service.

Temperatures were expected to steadily increase to a high of 13 on Wednesday, 21 on New Year’s Day, and 23 on Friday and Saturday; however, a high near 8 and low of 2 below was forecasted for Sunday.

The weather service was watching a larger storm system with the potential for accumulating snow that could hit the upper Midwest on Saturday; however, it was too early to predict specifics with the system.

While the heaviest snow was expected to hit Wisconsin and Michigan, some forecasters warned that holiday travelers could encounter 1 to 3 inches on parts of Interstates 35 and 90.

As of Tuesday morning, there was a 20 percent chance for snow on Saturday and a 30 percent chance for Saturday night, according NWS forecasts.