Weather Closings & Delays for Wednesday, January 21st, 2026

The latest round of winter weather has caused several schools to cancel activities and classes on Wednesday, January 21st, 2026. Below are the latest update regarding those closings and cancellations for Southeast Minnesota.

National Weather Service: Extreme Cold Watch Issued for Parts of Southeast Minnesota

The National Weather Service recently alerted residents about an Extreme Cold Watch for a large number of counties in Southeast Minnesota and Western Wisconsin due to dangerous wind chills.

WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 45 below possible.
WHERE...Portions of central, east central, south central, southeast, southwest, and west central Minnesota and northwest and west central Wisconsin.
WHEN...From Thursday evening through Saturday morning.
- weather.gov

Slick roads and other dangerous conditions have spurred closings, cancellations, and early releases for a variety of schools already on Wednesday, January 21st, 2026.

Here are the school closings, delays, and other cancellations across the Rochester and Southern Minnesota area for Wednesday, January 21st, 2026

Austin Public Schools -

closing early on Wednesday (District Early Childhood Programming will dismiss at 1:00 PM, Elementary Schools will dismiss at 1:00 PM, IJ Holton Intermediate and Ellis Middle School will dismiss at 1:30 PM, Austin High School will dismiss at 2:00 PM) - see full list and additional closing information for activities and Kids Korner at the Austin Public Schools website.

Albert Lea Area Schools - Closing early on Wednesday at 12:30 pm

Blooming Prairie Public Schools - dismissing at 1:00 pm

Grand Meadow Public Schools - dismissing early on Wednesday at 1:30 pm. Daycare and SAC closed at 2:30 pm. No after school activities.

Hayfield Community Schools - closing early on Wednesday at 1:00 pm

Howard Winneshiek Community School District - dismissing at 1:00 pm

Blooming Prairie Public Schools - dismissing at 1:00 pm

Lake Mills Community School - Closing early Wednesday at 12:15 pm with no PM activities

LeRoy- Ostrander Public School - early dismissal Wednesday at 1:30 pm

Lyle Public School - closing on Wednesday at 1:30 pm. Evening activities cancelled.

North Iowa Community Schools - Closed Wednesday

NRHEG Public Schools - schools dismissing at 12:45 pm. All after school activities cancelled. SAC will be open until 1:45 pm.

Riverland CC - All Campuses - closing early on Wednesday at 1:00 pm

South Central College - both the Faribault and North Mankato campuses closing at 5:00 pm on Wednesday

Southland Public Schools - Closing early on Wednesday at 1:30 pm

West Hancock CSD - Closed Wednesday

This list will be updated as new information comes in.

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11 of the Most Devastating Weather Disasters in Minnesota Throughout The Years

We might be full of lakes and "nice" but Minnesota has had its fair share of horrible and nasty weather. Throughout the years we've had floods, fires, storms that have crushed stadium roofs flat, and tornadoes that have destroyed lives.

Gallery Credit: Jessica Williams