With dangerous temperatures expected this weekend, Minneapolis City officials urge everyone to take precautions. Frostbite can occur in just minutes during extreme cold temperatures.  

How to stay safe and warm 

• Limit time spent outside.  
• Dress in layers, wear mittens, scarves, and hats, and keep clothes and shoes dry.  
• Check on family, friends, neighbors, and older adults who may live alone or need help. 
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and nicotine. Alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate (vasodilation), making you feel temporarily warmer while actually accelerating heat loss from your core. Nicotine and caffeine constrict blood vessels, particularly in your hands and feet, which increases the risk of frostbite.
• Know the symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia. Call your health care provider if symptoms are severe. Learn about frostbite and hypothermia
• Keep a winter survival kit in your car: blankets, extra warm clothing, snacks, bottled water, a shovel, flashlight, portable charger, and booster cables.

Hennepin County, the Salvation Army, and other organizations in the Twin Cities metro area offer warming shelters when temperatures drop below zero. 

Find a warming center in Hennepin County

Find warming centers in the Twin Cities metro area

The Cold Weather Rule is now in effect through April 30. The rule prevents your heat from being shut off, even if you can’t pay your bill. Learn about the Cold Weather Rule

Information is also available in Español/Spanish, Hmoob/Hmong and Soomaali/Somali.

Heat your home safely during lower temperatures

There are ways to heat your home during cold temperatures to stay safe and avoid fire hazards.

• Keep anything that can catch fire at least three feet away from portable heaters, fireplaces, and furnaces.
• Do not use space heaters to dry wet items, such as gloves or towels.
• Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Always plug space heaters directly into an outlet, not an extension cord or outlet strip.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Make sure your home has working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Clean and inspect your heating system and chimney annually. More than half of heating-related structure fires are caused by fireplaces and chimneys.

Watch our 'Heating Safety' video to learn how to protect yourself and your family during the cold season

Rental properties must have safe and effective heating systems. The minimum heat requirement is 68°F from Oct. 1 to April 30.

If you are a renter and your heat isn’t working: 

• Notify the property owner or manager right away.  
• If they don’t take steps to fix it immediately, call 311 to report it.  
• Outside of 311 hours, call 911 to report low heat or no heat. No matter the time of day, an inspector will follow up with you as soon as possible to address heat loss. 

If you are a rental property owner or manager: 

• Be sure that renters know how to reach you to report urgent issues.  
• If a renter notifies you that their heat isn’t working, take immediate steps to fix it.  
• If it can’t be fixed right away, provide space heaters for each affected unit until heat is restored. 

Visit our web page if you have questions about your rights 

During colder months, car thieves can take advantage of residents who leave their vehicles running unattended. Every year, running vehicles are stolen with dogs, and even children, still inside. Please note that even if you lock the doors, it only takes seconds to break a window or bypass a lock. 

• Be aware that it is against City ordinance to leave your key in the ignition while you are not in your vehicle. In fact, if your car is reported stolen and your keys were in it, it may also invalidate your insurance coverage. 
• It is legal to use a remote start because your key is not in the ignition and the vehicle cannot be moved.  
• But do take your key fobs with you, and don’t keep extra fobs or keys in your car.  

Please be mindful of Snow Emergency Notifications. Call 612-348-SNOW or visit the City’s website for more information.  

Pets get cold, too 

Minneapolis Animal Care and Control reminds community members to keep pets inside. If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them.  

• Never leave pets unattended in a parked car for any amount of time.  
• Like people, cats and dogs can get frostbite and hypothermia.  
• Leaving pets outside in the cold can result in citations of $500 or more, seizure of the animal, or the death of the animal from the cold.  
• Anyone who sees an animal outside without shelter or in an unattended car can call Minneapolis Animal Care & Control immediately – in Minneapolis, that’s 311 (612-673-3000). If they believe the situation is life-threatening and the animal is unresponsive, they should call 911.