Albert Lea beat an old record low Thursday morning on the third day of extreme cold to hit the region.

The temperature was 33 below zero, and the old record was 29 below zero in 1918.

Though the air temperatures were colder than Wednesday, the wind chill was warmer because of reduced wind.

Conditions led to the closures of area schools for the fourth straight day.

Temperatures increased throughout the day with some light snow, and rebounded to four degrees below zero at 3:30 p.m. Wind chills, however, were still 22 below zero.

The extreme cold has sent dozens of people to hospitals in Minnesota. Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis has treated 22 patients for frostbite since Friday, including 13 admitted to the hospital. The hospital also has treated numerous other people for cold-related injuries.

Temperatures are hopeful, however in the next few days, and are expected to reach 38 degrees Saturday before the return of some freezing drizzle and wintry mix Sunday and Monday.

 

— The Associated Press contributed to this report.