Well, it's official: it is going to get cold! An Arctic blast is set to freeze the Sioux Empire. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an Extreme Cold Warning for parts of South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa, including Sioux Falls. The warning is in effect from midnight Thursday until 9:00 AM Friday (1/23/26).

"Arctic air will dive south late this afternoon and bring stronger winds and very cold conditions. Wind chill values as low as -25 to -40 degrees are expected tonight into Friday morning. Exercise caution if out and about," The NWS said.

RELATED: The Coldest Temperatures Ever Recorded in Sioux Falls

Graphic Courtesy of the National Weather Service

As of Thursday morning, today's forecast for Sioux Falls says that temps will top out at 13 before noon, then drop to around 3 by sundown. Tonight, the temperature will continue to drop to around -17. With winds gusting to near 25 MPH, the wild chill will be a cold -30 overnight.

Friday will be partly sunny, but still very cold with a high of -4.

Keep yourself safe and warm. Dress for extreme cold weather, wear a hat, gloves, and layers. Frostbite can set in quickly on any exposed skin.

Make sure your pets have a warm place for the night, as well.

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READ: Did Your Pipes Freeze? Here's What to Do Next

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
228 AM CST Thu Jan 22 2026

IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ098-NEZ013-014-SDZ038-053-
059>062-065>071-221800-
/O.UPG.KFSD.EC.A.0001.260123T0300Z-260123T2000Z/
/O.NEW.KFSD.EC.W.0001.260123T0600Z-260123T1500Z/
Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O`Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee-Buena
Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Beadle-Sanborn-Davison-
Hanson-McCook-Minnehaha-Hutchinson-Turner-Lincoln-Bon Homme-
Yankton-Clay-Union-
Including the cities of Holstein, Springfield, Irene, Salem,
Menno, Allen, Ponca, Yankton, Sioux Center, Beresford, Tripp,
Huron, Mitchell, Milford, Ida Grove, Larchwood, Alcester,
Scotland, Elk Point, Inwood, Avon, Tyndall, Tabor, Storm Lake,
Wakefield, Woonsocket, Sioux City, Harrisburg, Vermillion, Sioux
Falls, Canton, Sheldon, Parkston, Cherokee, George, Clayton,
Spirit Lake, Hartley, Sanborn, Canistota, Lennox, Bridgewater,
Freeman, Le Mars, North Sioux City, Alexandria, Hawarden,
Montrose, Parker, Spencer, South Sioux City, Marion, Orange City,
Chancellor, Emery, Hurley, Sibley, Tea, Hull, Jefferson, Rock
Rapids, Battle Creek, Viborg, Centerville, Rock Valley, Luverne,
and Arnolds Park
228 AM CST Thu Jan 22 2026

...EXTREME COLD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM CST
FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 38 below zero
  expected.

* WHERE...Portions of northwest and west central Iowa, southwest
  Minnesota, northeast Nebraska, and east central and southeast
  South Dakota.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 9 AM CST Friday.

* IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 35 below zero
  could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Dress in layers including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must
go outside.

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Winter in South Dakota ain't no joke. It's not all winter wonderland and cute hat and glove combos.

It's snowy and freaking cold under gray skies. Just the right combination of things to make you fantasize about Arizona.

Don't worry though, it'll be over soon and we can enjoy our one-of-a-kind summers. Plus we have a delicious line-up of warm comfort food to help get through it all.

And quit dreaming, SD is waaayyy better than AZ for lots of reasons, but especially: NO Tarantulas.