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Most Minnesota school districts canceled classes or moved to online learning Friday, as a blast of arctic air brought the coldest conditions seen in the state in more than five years.

Air temperatures in the 20s and 30s below zero — with wind chills of 35 to 55 below zero — are expected across Minnesota on Friday. Schools canceling classes amid the dangerously cold weather included St. Paul, Anoka-Hennepin, Duluth and Mankato.

Bemidji, Bloomington and Faribault were among the districts moving to e-learning days on Friday. The University of Minnesota announced that its Twin Cities, Duluth and Rochester campuses would be on reduced operations Friday.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s office said Thursday that he was encouraging school districts to monitor the weather forecast and stay in contact with families — but he did not move to order schools closed on Friday. There is precedent for such a move; Walz’s predecessor, Mark Dayton, 

ordered all public schools in Minnesota to close

 due to forecast dangerously cold conditions in January 2014.

In addition to schools canceling classes, the forecast has prompted some event organizers to change plans. The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships, set to take place over the next few days at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, has canceled all games on Friday.

“This is not a decision made lightly — our priority is keeping players and staff safe,” organizers said in a 

. Games are set to resume on Saturday and Sunday.

 for Thursday night and Friday; indoor events will continue as scheduled.

Organizers of the annual Hockey Day Minnesota events — taking place in Hastings this year — said all games are still on as scheduled. 

“Fans attending Hockey Day Minnesota games on Friday and Saturday are encouraged to dress appropriately with multiple layers and blankets,” organizers 

. “Heated tents and fire pits will be available for fans to use throughout the complex.”

The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced that a project planned for this weekend — setting beams for the new Kellogg Boulevard / Third Street bridge over Interstate 94 east of downtown St. Paul — has been postponed until Feb. 6-8 because of the frigid forecast. That bridge work, when it happens, will require a weekend closure of the freeway.

Check for updates from your local school district about the status of classes. This list does not include districts — including Minneapolis and Rochester — that were already scheduled to be off on Friday 

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Andrew Krueger

Author

Most Minnesota school districts canceled classes or moved to online learning Friday, as a blast of arctic air brought the coldest conditions seen in the state in more than five years.


Minnesota schools cancel or move classes online amid dangerously cold conditions

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