When cold becomes a statewide decision: Minnesota eyes possible school closures as wind chills hit -45F

With wind chills forecast to dip to -45F, Minnesota faces the possibility of statewide school closures—rare in modern times, though not unprecedented during the 2019 polar vortex. Typically, wind chills around -35F prompt closures; last year saw many districts cancel in-person classes or switch to online learning when wind chills ranged from -35F to -45F. Minnesota’s cold history includes multi-year extreme winters in the 1990s and the record-breaking -60F in Tower in 1996, underscoring why these decisions hinge on district policies and emergency powers.