Metro school districts closing for Tuesday, Wednesday due to dangerous cold
(FOX 9) - Several school districts across the Twin Cities metro have announced they will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to the record-setting, dangerous cold that is expected to settle in Minnesota over the next few days.
Wind chills will drop into the 40 to 50 degrees below range Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, according to FOX 9 chief meteorologist Ian Leonard. Air temperatures will also drop to near record low readings on Wednesday and Thursday. At these temperatures, frostbite will be possible in less than five minutes.
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities announced classes starting at noon and later will be canceled on Tuesday and all classes will be canceled on Wednesday. The university, however, will stay open for all other business.
Minneapolis Public Schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday along with Minneapolis Kids sites. All Minneapolis Community Education evening classes and all athletic and school-sponsored activities are also canceled.
The school district said that although the forecasted temperature at the start of school Tuesday does not fall within their standard guideline for closing of 35 degrees below zero, it will quickly drop and will be well past that by the end of the day.
The school district will notify families and staff about whether school will be closed Thursday by late Wednesday afternoon.
St. Paul Public Schools, Anoka-Hennepin Schools, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools and Osseo Area Schools have also announced they will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. All after-school and evening activities are also canceled both days.
Many colleges and universities in the area have canceled classes on Tuesday and Wednesday as well.
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of St. Thomas and Metropolitan State University canceled afternoon and evening classes and will all be closed on Wednesday.
Macalester College, Concordia University-St. Paul, Augsburg University, Bethel University, Normandale Community College, Anoka-Ramsey Community College are closed both days.
St. Catherine University is open Tuesday, but will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
Carleton College in Northfield remains open.
For the latest on school closings, stay tuned to FOX9.com's school closings page.
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