The dangerous cold invading Minnesota has forced Governor Mark Dayton to close K-12 public schools statewide on Monday–the first such order by a Minnesota governor this century.
“The safety of Minnesota’s schoolchildren must be our first priority,” said Governor Dayton in a press release issued on Friday.
“I have made this decision to protect all of our children from the dangerously cold temperatures now forecast for next Monday. I encourage Minnesotans of all ages to exercise caution in these extreme weather conditions.”
Residents should follow the governor’s advice to avoid suffering from frostbite or hypothermia.
“One of most dangerous aspects of this Arctic outbreak will be the gusty winds accompanying the subzero temperatures,” stated AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Brian Lada.
Temperatures will start Monday in the minus 30s across northern Minnesota and the minus 20s to the south, then will not climb above 10 below zero statewide during the day.
Every Minnesota community will record dangerously cold AccuWeather.com RealFeel® temperatures of 40 below zero or lower every hour of Monday.
RELATED: Detailed Minneapolis Forecast Cold Weather Advisories, Warnings Forecast Temperature Maps
In Minneapolis, Monday’s expected actual high and low will challenge long-standing records. Monday’s current record low is 27 below zero from 1912, while the coldest record high is 14 below zero from 1909.
While turning out not as harsh as Monday, the subzero cold will continue statewide on Tuesday.
Friday’s announcement by Governor Mark Dayton is the first time a Minnesota governor has closed schools due to cold weather this century, stated the Associated Press.
Governor Arne Carlson canceled all Minnesota public schools three times in the 1990s due to extreme cold, according to the Minnesota State Climatology Office. The most recent occurrence was on Jan. 16, 1997.
More at AccuWeather: All Minnesota Public Schools Closed Monday Due to Cold
Filed under: Climate, News/ Current Events, Weather
