Submitted photograph This is the wind chill chart used by the National Weather Service. Note the frostbite times immediately beneath the chart.

This is serious stuff. So warns the National Weather Service.

The NWS issued a Wind Chill Warning Monday for the Minot area and virtually all of North Dakota. The reason? A forecast of bitterly cold Arctic air and gusty winds. It can be a deadly combination for anyone exposed to the elements for even a short period of time.

The NWS warns that, “Frostbite can occur quickly and even hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.” Wind chills in the 40-60 below zero range can result in frostbite in as little as 5-10 minutes and those extreme conditions are in the forecast for today and tomorrow.

An influx of numbing Arctic cold temperatures are expected to lower thermometer readings to minus 30 or more across a wide portion of North Dakota tonight, Minot included. Tomorrow’s high is forecast to remain in the minus 10 range with overnight temperatures Wednesday dipping as low as minus 15.

While the temperatures in the forecast are some of the coldest to hit the region in several years, it is the high winds accompanying the Arctic system that causes the NWS to describe the effect as “life threatening.” The NWS uses a wind chill chart to determine how cold the weather will feel.

For example, a temperature of minus 25 with a wind speed of 25 mph results in a wind chill reading of minus 58. Under those conditions exposed skin, such as ears and fingers, can become frostbitten is as few as 10 minutes.

The NWS says they have a high confidence that northwest winds will gust close to 30 miles per hour in the Minot area today. Winds are expected to ease off tonight and Wednesday, perhaps to 10 mph or less, but will combine with extremely cold temperatures that will keep wind chill readings in the minus 40-50 range.

As if wind chills of minus 50 aren’t cold enough, the eastern half of the state is expected to be even colder today. According to the NWS late yesterday the city of Langdon, in the northeastern corner of the state, could see a wind chill reading of minus 62 today. Wind chills are forecast to reach 50-60 below at Bottineau, Harvey, Devils Lake, Carrington, Jamestown, Grand Forks and Fargo.

Yesterday’s Wind Chill Warning was issued to begin at 9:00 p.m. last night through noon Thursday.