MN weather: Martin Luther King Jr. Day could be the coldest day in 6 years

Martin Luther King Jr. Day could be the coldest calendar day in the Twin Cities within the past six years. 

Coldest day in six years?

What we know:

Minnesotans are no stranger to subzero temperatures, so the minus signs over the weekend aren't anything unusual. But as we get through Monday and early Tuesday, our cold snap peaks with numbers that appear far less frequently. 

With the core of the cold air actually swinging through the state during the daylight hours on MLK Day, temperatures aren't likely to climb much. Not to mention, as winds pick up through the day, the feels like temperatures may actually be slightly colder than where we started the day. It's this timing that could make this cold a little different from what we've experienced over the last few years. 

The coldest high temperatures over the last few years have generally been within a few degrees on either side of zero. Sunday's high of 1 degree below zero was actually the coldest high temperature in roughly three years. 

As the core of the cold rolls through the state Monday, the highs will be even colder... Likely close to 6 degrees below zero here in the Twin Cities. If the forecast holds, that would make Monday the coldest calendar day in six years.

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The coldest morning is still yet to come, with Tuesday likely to be the coldest morning in a couple of years with widespread teens, 20s, and 30s below zero. 

But thankfully, our cold doesn't last super long as temperatures will slowly rise all of Tuesday, Tuesday night, and into Wednesday. By Midweek, the thermometer should be back in the 20s above zero, closer to seasonable norms.

Cold weather advisory, warning 

A cold weather advisory is in effect until noon for parts of central, southern, and western Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro area. Meanwhile, an extreme cold warning is in place for southeastern and northern Minnesota, where wind chills could plunge as low as 45 degrees below zero. 

Several school districts have announced delays, closures or e-learning on Monday due to the subzero temperatures. You can find a full list here.

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