Nearly all of Saskatchewan was under an extreme cold warning Monday morning, with wind chill values plunging to near –40, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
It’s abnormally cold for this time of year says Stephen Berg, a meteorologist with ECCC.
“It looks like for the western part of Saskatchewan by Tuesday night, there would be a rising temperature trend for Tuesday night into Wednesday. So for Saskatoon itself, the temperature will go from about –31 tomorrow till –21 on Wednesday,” Berg said.
He says the dramatic temperature swing from record lows to above freezing within just a few days is unusual but not unheard of in the Prairies.
“You’re getting a Arctic air mass, and then that gets replaced by a much more southerly air mass,” he said, so the –40 temperatures will be replaced with “those above zero temperatures in the winter, which are quite a bit above normal.”
He said that normals for this time of year are a high around –5 and a low around –15.
WATCH | Escaping the freezing weather with Family Day fun:
The RCMP Heritage Centre was one of many places in Regina hosting Family Day activities, giving people a chance to escape the cold and have a little fun.
Sunday’s extreme temperatures shattered records across the province including Assiniboia and Coronach in the south at –37, and Colins Bay and Key Lake up north at almost –50. However, relief is on the way.
“Wednesday [will] basically be the end of the extreme cold for western Saskatchewan. Eastern Saskatchewan might see extreme cold continue into Thursday morning, but then that will push eastward and be replaced by the warmth,” said.
He said that there are no more extreme cold warnings are expected for the next couple of weeks.
Berg advises those commuting to be cautious, carry a survival kit, and ensure their vehicle has an emergency blanket and as temperatures warm, ice conditions could still pose a risk on the roads.
Until the cold snap officially ends, he urges people to limit outdoor exposure. He says those who must be outside should take frequent breaks to avoid frostbite, which can happen within minutes.
