ISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The Dakotas were stuck in the deep freeze for a second day Tuesday, with the combination of icy air and brisk wind making it feel colder than minus 30 degrees in some areas.
Wind chill advisories posted by the National Weather Service were in effect for all of both states until midday, when temperatures were expected to begin moderating, on their way to a brief warmup just in time for the New Year's holiday. Bitter cold was expected to settle in again early next week, however.
Temperatures in North Dakota and South Dakota early Tuesday dropped into the single digits and teens below zero, and wind chill factors were in the minus 20s and even the minus 30s. The wind chill dropped as low as minus 33 degrees in Minot. Temperatures that cold can quickly result in frostbite and hypothermia for people who don't dress properly for the weather.
The cold was nowhere near record-setting, though it was a bit deceiving after a relative balmy Christmas holiday, according to weather service meteorologist Bill Abeling in Bismarck.
"It's not unusual (for the time of year) by any means, but since we've had sort of a mild period here, it does seem quite a bit colder," he said.
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For some businesses, the harsh weather meant slower sales. For others, the cold snap brought more traffic.
"Usually what happens when we have cold, the first day we might not see much (of an increase in business), but the second day we see more," said Kileen Limvere, owner of the Red Rooster Coffee House in Aberdeen, South Dakota. "People realize they can't go without coffee."
It was minus 6 with a wind chill of minus 20 in Aberdeen on Tuesday morning - "cold enough that I had to wear two layers," Limvere joked. "For us, this is normal weather."
The cold arctic air was expected to give way to warmer air from the Pacific Northwest for the rest of the workweek. High temperatures on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in the two states were forecast to be in the teens, 20s and lower 30s.
