Yes, you have school: Despite extreme cold, Twin Cities classes in session
Updated 8 a.m. | Posted 5:47 a.m.
The extreme cold has delayed some schools around the state — but not Twin Cities schools.
This year Minneapolis and St. Paul schools are operating under new weather-related closing plans. After last year's record-breaking cold, some of the state's biggest school districts have set rules intended to give parents a better idea if schools will be closed.
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In Minneapolis, classes are cancelled if the wind chill is 35 below, more than 6 inches of snow falls in 12 hours or more than 8 inches falls in 24 hours. The district has set a goal of telling parents the night before.
St. Paul school officials say they will announce a cold weather closing the night before, but only if forecast lows fall to 25 below zero, or wind chills fall to 40 below zero.
Anoka-Hennepin school officials say they will announce a closing if the National Weather Service issues a dangerous wind chill warning.
All three districts have classes Monday.
It was so cold in northern Minnesota on Sunday that a Duluth-area ski resort shut down.
Spirit Mountain suspended operations because of the cold weather.
Meanwhile, state law enforcement agencies are warning drivers to be prepared.
Lt. Tiffani Nielson of the Minnesota State Patrol says drivers need to be ready in case anything goes wrong with their vehicles.
"Anybody who is going to be out driving when the temperatures are this cold should always be certain they have at least a half tank of gas, ideally a full tank of gas," she said. "The other thing drivers should do is dress for the weather. I think it's a bad habit people sometimes fall into, if they're getting into a warm car they don't bring warm clothing with, and that can be extremely dangerous in these types of weather conditions."
Nielson recommends drivers charge their cellphones and bring a charger with them, in case they need to call for emergency services. She also recommends double checking tire pressure.