Bitter Wind Chills To Start The Week

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- For a third time this season, temperatures fell to double digits below zero in Minnesota.

Wind chill advisories are in effect Monday for most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin until 10 a.m. A few counties in extreme northern Minnesota are even seeing wind chill warnings, with wind chills expected to reach nearly 45 degrees below zero.

"In those sorts of conditions, frostbite can set it in minutes. So, if you're watching in northern Minnesota, even if you're running out to grab that paper, make sure you got the hat, the gloves, and the scarf covering your face. You don't want any sort of exposed skin," meteorologist Matt Brickman said.

Despite Monday morning's cold temps, there will be a lot of sunshine with calm winds. Temperatures start to pick up in the second half of the day, with 8 degrees expected by noon and a high of 17 degrees expected.

"But clouds are going to be increasing as the day goes on and those winds really ratchet up as well – southwest 10 to 20 miles per hour – so, a pretty breezy afternoon," Brickman said.

The warmer temperatures carry over into Tuesday, with highs expected to top out close to 30 degrees for the metro area.

It does come with a catch, however.

"It is going to be windy … and I'm not talking a little breeze, I'm talking some pretty strong winds gusting out of the northwest up to about 30 mph. So, that's a pretty good bite in the air during the afternoon," Brickman said.

Highs in the teens are expected for Wednesday and the rest of the week with some snow possible for the beginning of March.