Extreme cold settles over most of Saskatchewan

Extreme cold has settled in throughout most of Saskatchewan.

Temperatures around Regina and Saskatoon over the next week will see highs around -20 C and lows well into the -30 C range.

Environment Canada meteorologist Terri Lang said Monday the cold weather will likely mean the province will see extreme cold warnings issued throughout the week.

“(The arctic air) will continue to deepen over the next few days, so we’re expecting quite frigid temperatures and quite high wind chill values,” she said. “I’m sure we’ll see a number of extreme cold warnings across most of the regions.”

Just before 3:30 p.m. Monday, extreme cold warnings were put in place across the southern portion of the province.

Extreme cold warnings are issued in the southern part of the province when temperatures are below -40 C for two-plus hours. In the northern part of the province, extreme cold warnings are issued when the temperature is below -45 C for two or more hours.

Lang expects the wind chills to be at their worst later in the week.

“It all depends where you are in the province,” Lang said. “I think Thursday and Friday morning, the temperatures won’t be as cold, but the winds will be high, so I think the wind chill is going to be high.”

While it will be cold outside, Lang mentioned snow shouldn’t be an issue.

“Because the air is so cold, it’s very hard to generate a lot of snow in these temperatures,” she said. “We’ll see light snow, but not a lot of snow.”

Snow is only expected to fall in Regina and Saskatoon on Monday.

Lang added with the cold temperatures settling in across most of the province, it’s important to dress for the weather.

“If you have to go outside in these types of temperatures, you should be limiting the amount of time you’re outside. Dress in layers to keep yourself warm,” she said.

“A reminder too because there’s going to be so much travelling, you should check the Highway Hotline before heading out and make sure your car is ready for winter driving conditions and that you have an emergency kit in the car.”

The weather office is anticipating that temperatures should start to warm up for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

More information on the weather is available here. There weren’t road closures or recommendations not to travel on the Highway Hotline as of noon, but visibility was reduced on some highways south of Saskatoon.