A woman and child braving the cold | Source: Getty Images
According to the NWS, the affected states include Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Montana, and South Dakota.
The state weather agency reported that the Extreme Cold Warning will affect western and central North Dakota, including the James River Valley. In Kansas, extreme cold will affect portions of central, east-central, north-central, and northeast regions, as well as south-central and southeast areas.
The warning extends to the Panhandle of Oklahoma and the Panhandle of Texas, where wind chills could drop well below zero. Similar conditions are expected across northern Texas and much of Oklahoma, including central, east-central, northern, northwest, southeast, southern, southwest, and western parts of the state.
An icy bridge east of downtown Houston, Texas, after a winter storm on January 22, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
In Nebraska, extreme cold will grip central, north-central, panhandle, southwest, and west-central areas, while a portion of northeast Montana is also under advisory.
The warning further includes portions of southwest and west-central Iowa, as well as east-central, northeast, and southeast Nebraska. Additional alerts cover central, north-central, northeast, northwest, and west-central Iowa. Meanwhile, northwestern, south-central, and southwestern South Dakota are also bracing for dangerously low temperatures.
The NWS urges residents in affected areas to take precautions against frostbite and hypothermia, as wind chills are expected to reach life-threatening levels. Those who must go outside should dress in multiple layers, including a hat, face mask, and insulated gloves. Exposure should be limited, as skin can freeze within minutes in extreme conditions.
