Harsh Cold Expected to Linger in US Midwest
Pastor Dale Morgan
Harsh Cold Expected to Linger in US Midwest*
Feb 4, 9:01 AM (ET)
By PATRICK CONDON
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Despite the bitter cold gripping the Midwest, Mike
Thamm of Duluth prepared to walk outside clad only in a swimsuit and
dive into frigid water for charity.
"My courage is up - either that or I'm just crazy," the organizer of the
Polar Bear Plunge said Saturday.
Temperatures in Minneapolis and St. Paul were expected to stay below
freezing until sometime Tuesday, said National Weather Service
meteorologist Karen Trammel. The sub-freezing temperatures could linger
even longer in northern Minnesota, she said. Harsh winter weather
conditions brought whiteout conditions that were blamed for traffic
pileups in Michigan and Ohio.
At Lutsen Mountains Ski and Snowboard Area north of Duluth, employee
Kari Tarver said business was slow by early afternoon, when the
temperature was minus 8 degrees.
"We've got a family weekend event going on, but the truth is who's going
to want to take their little kids outside on a day like today?" she
said. She said a few skiers and snowboarders braved the elements, though.
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman intervened when officials moved to cancel
Saturday night's Winter Carnival parade. But it was to be a smaller
version, covering just three blocks in downtown St. Paul.
Blizzard warnings were in effect for parts of Michigan, and temperatures
reached as low as 17 below zero in the Upper Peninsula. Winds gusting to
40 mph threatened to drive wind chill readings to as low as 30 degrees
below zero, the National Weather Service said.
In Ohio, the winter blast was blamed for at least two deaths when
whiteout conditions on a freeway caused accidents involving 21 vehicles.
The two died when their car was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer,
the State Highway Patrol said. Several people were injured.
In eastern Michigan, a pileup of 20 vehicles forced a highway to close
for several hours in Genesee County. In the western portion of the
state, 50 vehicles crashed on U.S. 131. No fatalities were reported, but
police asked people to avoid driving if possible.
In Duluth, Thamm said in the seven years of the Polar Bear Plunge - a
benefit for the Special Olympics - this was the first time participants
were not jumping into Lake Superior. The event was moved to the back of
a local pub when the wind chill factor neared the 30-below-zero mark.
"That way when you climb out of the water you can run right inside and
warm up," he said.