Winter Weather Map Shows States Bracing for -30 Wind Chills

Portions of North Dakota, Montana and Minnesota are all bracing for wind chill temperatures that could plunge to -30 degrees or below as a high-pressure system makes its way south, bringing an Arctic blast.

Why It Matters

The possible wind chills could cause frostbite to exposed people “in as little as 10 minutes,” the National Weather Service (NWS) warns. The “dangerously” cold temperatures could also cause hypothermia.

Hypothermia is a condition in which a person’s internal body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. If left untreated, it can be fatal.

North Dakota winter weather — A snowy day in downtown in Fargo, North Dakota, March 30, 2009. Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota are all bracing for the potential of -30 degree wind chills on January 3.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

What To Know

Below is a breakdown of the cold weather advisories by state:

Montana: In Richland County, the NWS warns wind chills could plunge to -32 degrees until noon MST on Saturday. In Southern and Central Valley, Daniels, Eastern Roosevelt, Northern Valley, Sheridan, and Western Roosevelt counties, the wind chill could be -37 degrees.

North Dakota: In portions of north central and northwest North Dakota, the NWS says the wind chill could be -35 degrees. Northeast and southeast portions of the state could see -40-degree wind chills.

Minnesota: Northcentral and northwest Minnesota could see wind chills of -40 degrees, the NWS says. Southern Cook County, including Grand Portage Reservation tribal lands, could see -33 wind chills.

What People Are Saying

NWS Meteorologist Megan Jones in the Bismarck office told Newsweek: “It does seem once in a winter we get these Arctic blasts. It is not necessarily unheard of.”

Jones added that it is “very dangerous for people.”

“A high-pressure system from the northern Canadian prairies is bringing the colder air,” Jones said, adding, “Safety is the biggest concern. If you do have to be outdoors, limit the time.” Jones also advised people who are traveling to bring an emergency kit in the off chance they have car trouble.

Jones also told Newsweek that the wind chills in the Bismarck region will be the worst tonight but still cold on Saturday.

NWS Bismarck, Friday on X: “Very cold wind chills as low as 44 below zero will return tonight through Saturday morning, especially across northern North Dakota. Cold temperatures could still continue into next week. These cold temperatures could cause frostbite in as little as 10 minutes! #ndwx”