Most of the province under extreme cold warning

Environment Canada has issued an extreme cold warning for much of Saskatchewan.

It stretches from northern Saskatchewan, covering areas that include Saskatoon, Regina, Outlooks, Watrous, Yorkton, Humboldt, Preeceville, down to Estevan.

Environment Canada warns that frostbite can set in in minutes.

“We have an Arctic ridge that’s pushing into the northern half of Saskatchewan,” Environment Canada Meteorologist Robyn Dyck said.

She explains the system is pushing cold air from the arctic and creating extreme cold condition.

The warning shows the windchill could reach minus 50 at times in the extreme northern part of the province.

Those conditions mean people can develop frostbite within minutes and are at a higher risk of hypothermia.

Dyck expects the system will move south through the start of the week.

“As this clipper slumps south we’ll have some clearing in Saskatoon and central areas tonight (Sunday) and then south near the U.S. border it will be clearing tomorrow (Monday),” She said.

Once the cold air is gone Dyck forecasts warmer conditions.

“The cold air isn’t here forever,” Dyck explained.

Based on models Sunday morning she said warmer, near zero temperatures will likely back by mid-week.