GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The storm due from the north may bring temperatures of minus 15 to minus 20 degrees on Thursday, the National Weather Service sad.. That means wind chills of minus 50. Expect gusts of 35 mph with some of 50 mph in western and central Minnesota.
Storm preparation nuggets
> St. Paul: The Legislature canceled all committee hearings for Wednesday and Thursday as well as floor sessions on Thursday. Legislators will reconvene Monday.
> Minneapolis: Xcel Energy put on extra crews for power outages. Hundreds of employees are ready to restore power for 3.7 million customers, the giant utility said.
> Rochester: All downtown was posted for no parking from midnight to 8 a.m., Wednesday, and then again through overnights through Monday.
> Mankato: Corey Kapaun, manager at C&S hardware, believes Mankato is ready. He’s sold 130 to 140 snow blowers this winter and around 1,000 shovels. The demand now is salt and grit.
> LaCrosse: A 72-hour snow emergency with alternate side parking rules.
> Schools: Almost every school district n cancelled classes through the weekend.