Extreme cold warnings persist with wind chills from -40 to -50 expected in Manitoba

Much of southern Manitoba finds itself under extreme cold warnings Wednesday morning as an Arctic air mass settles over the province for the remainder of the year.

Wind chill values are expected to range between -40 and -50 for many parts of southern Manitoba, including the City of Winnipeg. "These extreme wind chills will persist into Wednesday morning, moderate slightly during the afternoon, and then return Wednesday night," Environment Canada says in the warning.

"Bitterly cold temperatures will persist through the week and continue to expand into other parts of Manitoba."

At 5 a.m. in Winnipeg, the temperature was -26 at The Forks, and it's not expected to budge a single degree throughout the day on Wednesday. The wind chill at times is expected to hit -42 throughout the day. An overnight low of -34 is expected with wind chill values around -44.

Environment Canada warns that frostbite can occur in minutes on exposed skin and urges people to "watch for cold related symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes."