Mower County is struggling to stay warm after blizzard-like weather hit the area over the weekend and brutally frigid cold is rolling through today.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill warning until midnight Tuesday morning. Temperatures in Austin will reach a high of minus 9 and a low of 19 below zero Monday, with wind chills expected to push temperatures as low as 40 below zero. The wind chill could be just as bad Tuesday, with temperatures reaching minus 2 for a high and minus 10 below. Wind chills could reach as low as 39 below zero during the day Tuesday.

Though temperatures will rise to 21 on Wednesday, another cold system will keep things cool toward the end of the week and into the weekend.

“We’ll still be below normal,” Taylor said.

Austin and the surrounding area got 3 to 4 inches of snow over the weekend, according to NWS meteorologist Zack Taylor. High winds created blizzard-like conditions over the weekend as well, especially on Sunday. Mower County Sheriff Terese Amazi said deputies fielded numerous calls to help stranded drivers over the weekend, and Police Chief Brian Krueger said Austin officers were called to help a driver on Highway 218 S. on Sunday because deputies were so busy. Things weren’t any better Monday morning, as at least seven cars were reported in the ditch along Interstate 90 east of Austin into Olmsted County at about 9 a.m.

Amazi cautioned drivers to be careful in this weather.

“Slow down, and if you don’t have to drive, don’t, until the winds die down,” she said.

Taylor said the winter thus far is the third-coldest on record for the Austin area. Temperatures from Dec. 1, 2013 to Jan. 26, 2014 were at about 10 on average. The coldest winter on record was 1979, with an average temperature of 8 during the same time period.

Dangerous cold, snow closes schools, roadways

MINNEAPOLIS — Subzero temperatures, high winds and drifting snow have closed schools and major roadways in Minnesota, with state officials cautioning against unnecessary travel.

The Minnesota State Patrol and the Department of Transportation advise against venturing out in southern and western Minnesota. Highway 210 from Breckenridge to Fergus Falls was closed due to deep drifting snow. Interstate 94 from Moorhead to Alexandria and Highway 10 from Moorhead to Detroit Lakes were reopened Monday morning.

The National Weather Service issued a wind chill warning statewide through noon Tuesday. Daytime temperatures of 10 below to 15 below are expected, with the wind pushing those readings to as much as 45 below zero.