01.22.11
Experimental Extreme Cold Warning
National Weather Service offices in the Dakotas and Minnesota decided to start using a new type of warning this week, called an “extreme cold warning“.
An extreme cold warning will be issued when the air temperature is forecast to drop to 40 below zero and lower, with little or calm wind (previously only a wind chill warning could be issued for such cold temperatures, but this is meant to be more for when there is not much wind).
Thursday night, the NWS in Duluth had the chance to issue their first extreme cold warning, and it certainly verified; International Falls recorded a low of 46 below, tied for their 5th lowest temperature on record.
See more info about the cold on the NWS Duluth page here. See also the NWS link to more info on the experimental extreme cold warning.