Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow 

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - December 15, 2025

Over the weekend, extremely cold air settled over Cook County, Grand Portage, and across Minnesota. According to the National Weather Service, peak wind chills dropped into the -40s°F. A Cold Weather Advisory was issued for the area due to wind chill temperatures as low as -35°F, which can cause frostbite on uncovered skin in as little as 10 minutes. The advisory expired at 9 a.m. on Sunday. 

Wind chills

The coldest wind chill recorded in Cook County over the weekend was -41°F at the Grand Marais Airport at 12:55 a.m. on Sunday, December 14. The airport also recorded a wind chill of -40°F early Saturday morning. 

Saturday Morning wind chills:

• Grand Portage: -30F
• Bay Of Grand Marais: -24F
• Schroeder: -18F

• Grand Marais: -36F
• Grand Portage: -30F 
  
  

Actual air temperatures

Actual air temperatures across Cook County and Grand Portage were also bitterly cold throughout the weekend. The lowest recorded air temperature in Cook County over the weekend was -17°F, observed at the Grand Marais Airport at 6:35 a.m. on Saturday, December 13.

Actual temperatures as of Saturday morning: 

• Grand Portage: -10F
• Schroeder: -10F
• Brule River near Hovland: -8

Actual temperatures as of Sunday morning:

• Grand Marais: -13F
• Grand Portage: -9F