Dangerous Cold Throughout the Midwest

The U.S. National Weather Service (↗) has issued Wind Chill Warnings for all or parts of the following states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, (western) Pennsylvania, and (western) New York. The bitterly cold temperatures will mostly occur on Wednesday, January 30th and Thursday, January 31st.

Some areas might experience wind chill temperatures of -40 to -60 degrees (40 to 60 degrees below zero)! If possible, do not go outside on those days. If you unfortunately have to, please bundle yourself up as much as you can with hats, mittens, scarves, etc. and wearing extra layers of clothing. Frostbite might occur within minutes, especially if the air is windy. Please check your local weather source and regional National Weather Service website for the complete details for where you live, work, and play.

As an indication of the imminent coldness that will soon descend the Midwest and surrounding areas, the following county governments in Northern Indiana are closing for January 30th and in some cases for January 31st as well: Allen, Elkhart (some government functions), Jay (courthouse and likely other government functions), LaGrange, Lake, Kosciusko, Marshall, Noble, Porter, Saint Joseph, Steuben, and Whitley counties, among others. Of course, plenty of school districts — if not all of them in Northern Indiana — will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
(List updated 5:48 PM Eastern Time, January 29th)