Manitoba

Extreme wind chill holds tight grip on Manitoba

Many Manitobans woke up on Monday to yet another extreme wind chill warning.

Hope is on the horizon with a warming trend expected by week's end

Extreme wind chill holds tight grip on Manitoba

11 years ago
Duration 2:00
Many Manitobans woke up to yet another extreme wind chill warning on the first Monday of 2014.

Many Manitobans woke up on Monday to yet another extreme wind chill warning.

The entire southern half of the province is shivering under wind chills of –40 C to –50 C, which means frostbite can happen in five to 10 minutes.

In Winnipeg, it was –33 C at 7 a.m., but felt more like –46 with the wind chill. In Brandon, the temperature was the same, but came with a wind chill of –51.

Winnipeggers are sick of winter already, as expressed by someone in the city's Wolseley neighbourhood, who left a message to Mother Nature in a snowbank. (John Bronevitch/CBC)
The cold meant anyone who needed a boost to get their car going had to wait a very long time for help from CAA Manitoba. The auto association said it would be a full 24 hours behind schedule.

And those planning to fly on Monday were urged to double-check with their airline to make sure their flights were on time — if they were even going at all.

It's another frosty day in Winnipeg. (Darren Bernhardt/CBC)
Several flights were delayed at Winnipeg's James A. Richardson International Airport.

United Airlines, which cancelled a number of flights last week, has once again cancelled flights between Winnipeg and Chicago.

The weather has also had an impact on garbage pickup in Winnipeg. On Monday, the city said recycling and garbage collection is up to one day behind schedule in some neighbourhoods.

If your garbage hasn't been picked up yet, leave it out until crews can come by and get it, the city advises.

The extreme wind chills persisted throughout the day in the southernmost parts of the province, while there will be some easing of those frigid levels over regions closer to central Manitoba.

Winds are expected to become light overnight across southern Manitoba, reducing the wind chill levels for Tuesday.

What? A warming trend?

Could it be. Could there be an end to deep freeze that has held Manitoba in its clutches for more than three weeks?

Winnipeggers, and most people in Manitoba, have endured a cold snap that began well before Christmas. (Darren Bernhardt/CBC)
Environment Canada expects "a significant warming trend" later this week across southern Manitoba.

The long-range forecast calls for a daytime high of –11 C on Thursday, then –8 C on Friday and –6 C on Saturday.

The overnight lows for those days are expected to be a mild –12 C.

The normal temperatures for this time of year include a high of –13 C and an overnight low of –24 C.