Extreme cold warnings continue through most of Manitoba

Extreme cold warnings are in effect for another day in most of Manitoba, with wind chill expected to make it feel as cold as –50 in the north and –45 in the south on Thursday and into Friday morning, according to Environment Canada.

As skies continue to clear today and into Thursday night, temperatures will plummet to values not yet seen across the south this winter, said CBC meteorologist John Sauder in his daily weather journal.

The coldest temperatures of the week for southern Manitoba will be Thursday night into Friday morning, between –35 C and –35 C. That means frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin.

The high on Friday will actually be later in the day — likely toward midnight, Sauder said, with temperatures climbing Friday evening and into Saturday morning.

Environment Canada issued extreme cold warnings Tuesday and Wednesday for most of the south, central, north and northwestern parts of the province. 

The movement of cold Arctic air flowing into Manitoba has now resulted in more areas in the north being added to the warnings, while some parts of eastern Manitoba are no longer under warnings.

Parts of the north had lows colder than –30 C overnight; with the wind chill, it felt like –45, Environment Canada says. Throughout the day Thursday, wind chill was expected to make it feel as cold as –50 in some northern areas, the weather agency said.

In the south, wind chill values in the –45 range were expected through the day.

Those conditions carry an elevated risk of frostbite and hypothermia, Environment Canada says.

Manitobans are warned to watch for symptoms brought on by extreme cold, including muscle pain and weakness, chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness and other extreme cold-related symptoms.

Extreme cold warnings were lifted Thursday afternoon for some parts of northeastern and southeastern Manitoba. As of 3 p.m., the following areas remained under warnings:

• Winnipeg.
• Arborg, Hecla, Fisher River, Gypsumville and Ashern.
• Brandon, Neepawa, Carberry and Treherne.
• Brochet.
• Dauphin, Russell, Roblin and Winnipegosis.   
• Dugald, Beausejour and Grand Beach.
• Flin Flon, Cranberry Portage and Snow Lake.
• Gillam.
• Grand Rapids and Waterhen.
• Killarney, Pilot Mound and Manitou.
• Lynn Lake, Leaf Rapids and Pukatawagan.
• Melita, Boissevain and Turtle Mountain Provincial Park.      
• Minnedosa and Riding Mountain National Park. 
• Morden, Winkler, Altona and Morris.
• Portage la Prairie, Headingley, Brunkild and Carman.          
• Selkirk, Gimli, Stonewall and Woodlands.    
• Shamattawa.
• Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa and Gladstone.    
• Steinbach, St. Adolphe, Emerson, Vita and Richer.      
• Swan River, Duck Mountain and Porcupine Provincial Forest.    
• Tadoule Lake.
• The Pas, Wanless, Westray and Clearwater Lake Provincial Park.
• Thompson, Nelson House and Split Lake.
• Virden and Souris.