MADISON, Wis. -- With very frigid temperatures and dangerous wind chills expected to blast southern Wisconsin through Friday morning, state and county authorities are urging residents to take precautions.

READ: Madison Schools To Make Closing Decision Early Thursday Morning

The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill warning for southern Wisconsin that is in effect Wednesday through noon on Friday.

A wind chill warning means the combination of very cold air and strong winds will create dangerously low wind chill values. This will result in frost bite and lead to hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.

The National Weather Service is forecasting dangerous wind chills Wednesday night, Thursday, and Thursday night that might be as cold as 50 degrees below zero. Air temperatures without the wind could approach 30 below on Thursday night. Dane County officials said that if these forecasts bear true, these would be among the coldest temperatures Dane County has experienced in more than a decade.

The severe cold has been blamed for a death in northern Wisconsin. Timothy Brueggeman, 51, died of exposure after he was found outside Tuesday morning. Brueggeman was known to sleepwalk and was found about 190 yards from his house near Hayward. Deputies followed the tracks of his bare feet after his son reported him missing.

Sawyer County sheriff's chief deputy Tim Zeigle said Brueggeman was on prescription sleeping pills and had been in bed before he walked outside. The temperature in Hayward plunged to 16 below zero Tuesday morning.

The state Department of Transportation said the cold, snowy weather is causing driving problems.

The state DOT Web site said Interstates 43 and 94 along with state Highway 41 in southeastern Wisconsin are considered ice covered and hazardous. Most other highways in southern Wisconsin are snow covered and slippery, and the rest of the state has slippery stretches.

Dane County dispatchers said the evening rush hour Wednesday was hectic with crashes and some slide-offs.

The DOT is reminding motorists to slow down on roadways because normal driving conditions will be difficult to achieve with the single-digit and sub-zero temperatures forecast for the next several days. DOT officials said that's because the normal product used to keep roadways clear of ice and snow has greatly reduced effectiveness below 15 degrees. The DOT said that motorists traveling during the extreme cold should keep their gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines and prepare a vehicle disaster/storm survival kit.

Wisconsin Emergency Management officials are reminding residents to plan for the upcoming bitter cold to prevent personal injury and/or death as a result of exposure to the cold. Officials said frostbite and hypothermia can occur if people are not properly dressed or prepared during periods of extreme cold and wind. A wind chill of just -20 could cause frost bite in less then 15 minutes.

Authorities said if people suspect signs of frostbite and/or hypothermia, they should seek medical attention by calling 911 immediately.

With wind chills over the next few days predicted to fall -- at times -- near 45 degrees below zero, local emergency rooms said they're preparing for those who don't heed the warnings.

Dr. Beth Tumpach, who works in the Columbus Hospital emergency room, said people need to dress appropriately for the cold or avoid going outside. She said those who don't heed that warning amid dangerously cold temperatures will likely end up in the emergency room.

Tumpach said one of the most common mistakes people make is staying outside too long without coming in to warm up. Many times, she said, they don't even realize it.

"We've had people come in who were out shoveling for two hours -- and in this temperature and with the wind chill factor, you definitely need to take some breaks and warm up," Tumpach said. "(You need to make sure) you're not out for too long and exposed to the cold for longer periods of time."

Tumpach said people might feel warm while shoveling, but exposed hands and ears can freeze, causing frostbite and pain.

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk said the county is making preparations for the extreme cold in the forecast.

Dane County Emergency Management is assisting local agencies like the Salvation Army, where warming shelters are available Wednesday night. The Salvation Army said it already has 60 people in its shelter and was expecting overflow Wednesday night.

But if shelters are full, Dane County officials said they will find other places for people to stay to keep warm.

"Dane County works with sheltering agencies to support their operations, and we have reached out to them to make sure they're prepared and make sure their plans are in place," said J. McLellan, of the Wisconsin Department of Emergency Management.

Those in need of shelter are urged to call the United Way of Dane County's 2-1-1 hot line, which is available 24 hours a day, to be connected with necessary assistance.

Dane County officials said those with emergency energy needs should contact Energy Services Inc. at 608-267-8601.

Milwaukee, Other Districts Cancel School Thursday

With a blast of Arctic cold hitting Wisconsin, the state's biggest school district is among many calling off classes on Thursday.

Milwaukee Public Schools announced it will be closed because of extreme temperatures and wind chills. All of the district's recreation programs also are canceled for the day. The Milwaukee district has about 80,000 students.

Northern districts that canceled Thursday's classes included Wausau, Merrill, Antigo, Edgar, Athens and Mosinee. Northcentral Technical College in Wausau did the same.

The National Weather Service said temperatures will drop to 10 to 30 degrees below zero across Wisconsin Wednesday night, with wind chills from 30 to 45 below. Bitter cold is forecast to continue Thursday and Friday before a warm-up starts Saturday.

The Madison Metropolitan School District and districts in Dane County said they will wait until 4:30 to 5 a.m. Thursday to make a decision about whether to cancel classes on Thursday. (For more information, click here.)

The city of Madison said Streets Department crews will be doing snow removal Thursday morning that will impact several downtown streets.

City officials said traffic will likely be tied up on Gorham Street from Few to Butler, on Regent Street from Breese Terrace to Highland, and on Allen Street from Regent to Van Hise.

On Friday, parking will be temporarily restricted as crews will be cleaning up along East Johnson Street from Hamilton to Baldwin, on Regent Street inbound from Virginia to Spooner and South Mill Street from Drake to Erin.

WISC-TV meteorologist Gary Cannalte said the forecast for Wednesday night is clear, breezy and bitterly cold with a low of -20 and wind chills of -25 to -45 degrees.

Cannalte said Thursday will be mostly sunny, breezy and continue to be bitterly cold with a high of -6 and wind chills of -25 to -35 degrees. The low temperature Thursday night will be -21 with wind chills of -25 to -40 degrees.

Cannalte said Friday will be partly sunny, becoming breezy and bitterly cold. He said it will become mostly cloudy with light snow developing at night. Cannalte said the high temperature will be 8 degrees and the wind chill will be -20 to -30 Friday morning.

Learn About Area Cancellations, Closings

Note: For those who want to submit school closings, delays or cancellation information, please do so through normal means. For those who want to post other types of event cancellations, e-mail them. Please include all relevant information. A phone number is required should Channel 3000 need to confirm the information.

MADISON

Evangel Life Center in Madison has canceled all activities until 5 p.m. Friday.

The Personal Essentials Pantry at Zion Church on Madison's near-east side will be closed due to weather on Thursday, Jan. 15. Normal service hours will resume on Sunday, Jan. 18.

CAMBRIDGE

Cambridge/Deerfield Curves will be closed Thursday.

JOHNSON CREEK

Equity Cooperative Livestock will be closed on Thurs., Jan. 15.

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