Low temperatures expected for the rest of the week in Saskatchewan

After snow fell in Saskatchewan earlier in the week, the temperature followed suit.

Regina was around -15 C with Saskatoon around -20 C on Wednesday morning. The wind chill stood at around -30 C.

“We’re not expecting it to get much warmer (Wednesday) or for the next three or four days (in Regina),” said Environment Canada meteorologist Danielle Desjardins. “A normal daytime high for this time of the year is 0 degrees with an overnight low of -10. That’s about 13 or 15 degrees below normal.

“Saskatoon is more or less the same. It’s slightly cooler — expecting daytime highs to be in the upper teens (below zero); -19 degrees is the forecast for (Wednesday). (There will be) a slow, slight warming trend to the minus-single digits for the weekend and then by early next week, (highs will be) climbing to near zero.”

The wind chill values are expected to reach the -30s for both cities for the next few days. Desjardins said the winds aren’t expected to be strong, maybe reaching 20 kilometres per hour.

“It’s not so much the wind as much as a product of the air temperatures themselves,” Desjardins said. “Our wind chill warning criteria is -40 and it’s going to be close, so (that’s) something to watch out for.

“Definitely limit your time outside and if you are going to be outside, dress appropriately and bundle up.”

Things are expected to warm up on the weekend and early next week. Desjardins said daytime highs are expected to approach zero in both cities early next week.

Environment Canada issued an extreme cold warning for Lloydminster on Wednesday, saying wind chills of around -40 C were expected Wednesday night.

Just before 4 p.m., extreme cold warnings were issued for areas around Kindersley, Rosetown and The Battlefords, saying temperatures will drop to -30 C overnight with wind chill values near -40 C by Thursday morning.

According to the Highway Hotline, visibility was poor on a number of roads in the province — including around Kindersley, Kerrobert, Swift Current and Moose Jaw — but there weren’t any road closures or advisories on most highways.