HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 01-04 Minnesota preps for some coldest temperatures in 20 years STAR TRIBUNE e-Print Page I
StarTribune
Minnesota preps for some of
coldest temperatures in 20
years
Article by:KIM McGUIRE
Star Tribune
January 4,2014-5:44 PM
Winter break got a little longer for thousands of
students as Gov.Mark Dayton took the rare step
of canceling school statewide on Monday,with
temperetures predicted to plunge to 25 to 35
degrees below zero across Minnesota that
morning.
"The safety of Minnesota's schoolchildren must be
our frst priority,"Dayton said Friday."...I
encourage Minnesotans of all ages to exercise
caution in these extreme weather conditions."
Although the state is used to frigid winters,this
predicted deep freeze surpasses even what hardy
Minnesotans can handle.The National Weather
Service is forecasting windchills of 60 degrees
below zero Monday morning in northern and
central Minnesota and 50 below in the Twin Cities
and south.
In addition to the schoots closing,the weather
was prompting other cancellations across the
state—from Sunday church services to parks
programs to recycling pickup.
3M Co.sent an e-mail to employees at its
Mapiewood campus telling them they should stay
home Monday rather than report to work.
At least one college,the UniversiTy of St.Thomas
in St.Paul,announced that it would be open only
for essential employees on Monday.In Wsconsin,
Gov.Scott Walker was reported to be considering
canceling school on Monday,as well.
For the most part,local school officials in
Minnesota applauded the decision to cancel
classes Monday.Many were already
contemplating the move,concerned about the
wealhers effect on students waiting for buses or
walking to school.
"When you're talking about a windchill of 30 to 40
degrees below zero,you just don't want kids
outside,"said Rick Kaufrnan,a spokesman for
Bloomington Public Schools.
While Dayton's announcement applied only to
public schools,including charters,private schools
also said they would be closed Monday.In the
Twin Cities,for example,Minnehaha Academy,
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Three Rivers Park District: Hyland Ski
St. Paul Academy, Cretin-Derham Hall, Blake, and Snowboard Area and the downhill
Holy Angels and Annunciation School in operation at Elm Creek Winter �
! Recreation Area will close at 3 p.m.
Minneapolis all posted online announcements of Sunday and remain closed until 3 p.m.
Monday closures. Tuesday. {
• Downhili ski and snowboard lessons
The gravity of such subzero cold was underlined ' scheduled for Sunday will still take place
however, all registrants are being offered r
in a report from New Ulm, where William Harry alternative dates if they would like to
Lee, 79, was found Unresponsive in his back yard
reschedule.
late Thursday. He had fallen, but the 18-below • Cross-country ski lessons scheduled for
Sunday or Monday are canceled and will �
temperature contributed to his death, aCCOrding to be rescheduled.
the Brown County coroner. • Cross-country ski trails will remain open
and facilities that support cross-country
3 COId ClOSUfes il1 '90S skiing will be open normal hours to
suppoR any skiers who choose to
i venture out; however, there will be no ski ;
Canceling classes statewide because of the rentais avaiiabie. Ski traiis wiu be
groomed for Saturday and Wednesday.
tempet'atUfe IS eXtfemely f8�e. Trails will not be groomed Sunday
+ through Tuesday.
Gov. Arne Carlson made front-page news on Jan. , program centers wiu operate under
18, 1994, by doing so when windChills in some normal hours on Sunday and Monday
and public programs will be modified if
areas plunged to 80 degrees below zero under ; necessary in response to cold conaitions. '
the measure used at the time (the formula has , Excelsior United Methodist Church:
since been changed). '' Canceled all services Sunday and
r: Monday.
Carlson also called off classes on Feb. 2, 1996 —
the day the state saw its all-time low temperature
of 60 below zero near Tower, Minn., and the Twin Cities dropped to 32 below.
Carison canceled schools for a third time on Jan. 16, 1997.
At the time, some complained that local school officials, not the governor, should make that
call. On Friday, students applauded Dayton's decision, posting photos on social media that
showed them dancing in celebration while urging the governor to run for president of the
United States.
Many parents also supported the call, but some were concerned about trying to find child care
on Monday.
"I know a lot of parents who don't have child care," said Marian Johnson, an Edina parent.
"They have to worry if they can get the day off."
State Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius said local school districts — not the state
— will decide whether to open on Tuesday.
She explained that school officials typically like to wait until the weather forecast is as
accurate as possible before making a decision. But in this case, as most districts were coming
off a two-week holiday break, state officials felt comfortable calling off school days in advance.
The early warning, Cassellius said, should give parents time to make child-care
arrangements.
"We take these things very seriously," she said. "It was not a decision made lightly."
Congealed bus fuel
Already, the low temperatures were causing probiems for some Minnesota schools where
classes had resumed Thursday.
At Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton in the northwestern corner of the state, two buses were delayed
when their fuel congealed, a phenomenon that can strike when temperatures drop to 20
degrees below zero.
"It was a perfect storm of events," said Superintendent Bryan Thygeson. "It was a cold day to
start with — about 27 degrees below zero when the buses started running — and our first day
back to school."
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Some school officials as well as the state teachers'union urged students to stay inside, read
and catch up on homework on Monday.
Zoo not an option
Whatever parents ultimately decide to do with their kids on Monday, it won't involve taking
them to the Minnesota Zoa
Zoo officials cited Dayton's decision to cancel classes in announcing that the Apple Valley
operation would be closed on Monday.
"The safety of our guests is always our first priority,"said Zoo Director Lee Ehmke.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Kim McGuire•612-673-4469
Rachel E.Stassen-Berger Twitter:@RachelSB
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