Extreme cold warnings blanket all of Saskatchewan Friday

The entire province is waking up in a deep freeze Friday.

Extreme cold warnings from Environment Canada covered the entirety of Saskatchewan on Friday morning, with wind chills as low as -55 C expected for parts of the province. Those temperatures are expected to persist through the weekend, before moderating slightly next week.

“A multi-day episode of very cold wind chills continues,” the weather service said in a statement.

“Extreme wind chill values between -45 and -55 will persist through the weekend.”

Regina’s forecast showed a high of -29 C for Friday, and an even colder high of -31 C on Saturday and Sunday.

In Saskatoon, school bus service has been cancelled due to the cold, and the forecast for Friday showed a high of just -31 C. Saskatoon is expected to get even colder on Saturday, with a high of -33 C.

Frostbite is always a concern when temperatures drop so low.

“Cover up. Frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill,” the weather service said in a statement.

“Watch for colour changes on fingers and toes, pain, numbness, a tingling sensation, or swelling. If present, move indoors and begin warming.”

The latest information on weather alerts can be found on Environment Canada’s website.