Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Wadena, Minnesota

2026-01-22 to 2026-01-23 · Wadena, Minnesota

Event narrative

The KADC AWOS at Wadena, MN reported frequent wind chill values -40 or lower from early afternoon on January 22 through the morning of January 23. The lowest wind chill value at this site was -52.

Wider weather episode

Arctic air settled into the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest resulting in a prologued period of extreme cold and wind chills across northwest and west central Minnesota.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1316631. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.