Southern Manitoba still in the grip of extreme cold warnings

After a weekend of record-setting cold, southern Manitoba isn't quite out of the deep-freeze.

On Saturday 20 communities set temperature records as temps hovered around the -40 mark in the province, according to Environment Canada. On Sunday another six records were reached as lows dipped down to -44. Dan Kulak from Environment Canada says in some areas the records go back more than 50 years.

Kulak says the Prairies had two months of mild weather before the Arctic cold moved in, and that led to an extreme transition within the span of a couple of days.

He says February was like "opening the freezer door."

While relief is on the horizon, it's not here, yet.

An Arctic ridge of high pressure has allowed for a very cold air mass to settle over southern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba, Environment Canada says.

Extreme cold values of -40 continue this morning for parts of central Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba.

These extreme cold values will moderate today. Extreme cold wind chill values near minus 40 may return again tonight into Wednesday morning for parts of southern Manitoba.

Risks are greater for young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, people working or exercising outdoors, and those without proper shelter.

By the weekend daytime highs in many parts of southern Manitoba, including the City of Winnipeg, are expected to reach above -10.