As Minnesotans dig out, 'arctic sledgehammer' hits

First came a half-foot of snow. Then snow-emergency parking rules. Then an arctic front.

December 18, 2016 at 1:02PM

As temperatures plummeted in the Twin Cities metro over the weekend, both Minneapolis and St. Paul declared snow emergencies on Saturday.

While Minnesotans dig out of the 6 inches of snow dumped in the area Friday night, the state is preparing for the lowest windchill since 2014. Air temperatures will drop on Saturday night to 20 degrees below zero in the metro area, according to the National Weather Service in Chanhassen. Accounting for the windchill, it could feel like 33 below.

In Minneapolis and St. Paul, snow emergencies were declared between 9 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Monday. Winds are hitting 10-15 miles per hour, which in combination with the snowfall, have produced an enduring arctic front.

Motorists were advised to stay indoors over the weekend, as the extreme cold could prompt frostbite within 15 minutes, according to meteorologist Eric Ahasic. Outside the metro area, temperatures could plummet to 40 below, especially in western Minnesota, Ahasic said.

Because of the cold, the Holidazzle in Loring Park altered its schedule. Holidazzle and the adjacent warming house for skating are closed on Sunday, and will reopen during regular hours on Monday. Holidazzle extended hours on Thursday, Dec. 22 and Friday, Dec. 23 from noon-10 p.m.

The weekdays ahead will warm up to normal seasonal temperatures, according to Ahasic. The Weather Service is eyeing Wednesday for another potential storm, Ahasic said on Saturday morning.

"If you can make it through [Sunday], we have warm up in sight," he said. "We'll have highs around 30."

For snow emergency rules in Minneapolis, call 612-348-SNOW. In St. Paul, call 651-266-PLOW.

Natalie Daher • 612-673-1775

Earlier Saturday, it was the snow-covered landscape putting a grimace on a face in northeast Minneapolis. Later, it will be the extreme cold, with temps approach 20-below or even more.
Earlier Saturday, it was the snow-covered landscape putting a grimace on a face in northeast Minneapolis. Later, it will be the extreme cold, with temps approach 20-below or even more. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
A Minneapolis plow truck cleared 27th Avenue NE. on Saturday afternoon. After the snowfall, the temperature was to plunge into the minus-20s.
A Minneapolis plow truck cleared 27th Avenue NE. on Saturday afternoon. After the snowfall, the temperature was to plunge into the minus-20s. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Snow blankets Fort Snelling Cemetery as temperatures begin to slide, part of a deep-freeze that will see windchills well below zero overnight Saturday and into Sunday.
Snow blankets Fort Snelling Cemetery as temperatures begin to slide, part of a deep-freeze that will see windchills well below zero overnight Saturday and into Sunday. (Colleen Kelly — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Minneapolis is blanketed in a fresh coat of snow as temperatures drop to single digits (and below zero overnight Saturday.)
Minneapolis is blanketed in a fresh coat of snow as temperatures drop to single digits (and below zero overnight Saturday.) (Colleen Kelly — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
A man grimaces as he walks though the snow covered landscape Saturday in the northeast. ] ANTHONY SOUFFLE • anthony.souffle@startribune.com Residents dig out after a heavy snow overnight Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016 in the northeast of Minneapolis.
Walking through northeast Minneapolis on Saturday proved to be a chilling experience for this man. Temperatures continued to drop overnight. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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