Hercules Satellite Image

This image taken on January 3, 2014 by the Suomi NPP satellite shows the blanket of snow that stretches from the Midwest across to New England after a massive winter storm moved over the region on January 1-3, 2014. (Source: NASA/NOAA)

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov. Mark Dayton moved Friday to cancel all public school classes statewide on Monday because of dangerous weather, the first such closing in 17 years.

"The safety of Minnesota's schoolchildren must be our first priority," Dayton said in a statement. The National Weather Service is forecasting the lowest temperatures in at least a decade Monday, with air temperatures that could reach as low as -30 degrees and high temperatures only reaching the minus teens.

"I encourage Minnesotans of all ages to exercise caution in these extreme weather conditions," Dayton said.

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It was the first time that a Minnesota governor closed schools in response to cold weather since January 16, 1997. According to the State Climatology Office, former Gov. Arne Carlson called off classes that day as temperatures reached minus-32 in the Twin Cities.

Carlson also closed schools statewide on Feb. 2, 1996. That's the day that a state record low was set, according to the Climatology Office, when the air temperature hit minus-60 near the northern Minnesota town of Tower. Carlson first closed schools on Jan. 18, 1994, as temperatures hit 26 below in the Twin Cities.

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School administrators in Rochester had already canceled classes for Monday. Dayton's office said he made the decision Friday in order to give school administrators, teachers and parents time to plan for the closures. The state Department of Education was coordinating with school districts to make sure the public is adequately notified about the school closings.

Minnesota law gives the governor the power to "authorize the commissioner of education to alter school schedules, curtail school activities or order school closed," according to the language of the statute.

State officials urge Minnesotans to be prepared for extreme low temperatures by having a plan in case of power or furnace outages or other unforeseen circumstances.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Winter Storm Hercules

Hercules Satellite Image

This image taken on January 3, 2014 by the Suomi NPP satellite shows the blanket of snow that stretches from the Midwest across to New England after a massive winter storm moved over the region on January 1-3, 2014. (Source: NASA/NOAA)