Environment Canada issues cold warnings for Saskatoon, west-central Sask.

Environment Canada issued warnings for extreme cold in Saskatoon and much of west-central Saskatchewan on Thursday afternoon.

The warnings include the City of Saskatoon and the surrounding areas, as well as the Battlefords, Biggar, Kindersley, Meadow Lake, Prince Albert, Shellbrook and Rosetown.

The weather service said extreme wind chills near -40 C are expected overnight Thursday. The temperatures will moderate slightly during the day on Friday, Environment Canada noted, but will likely plunge again that evening.

The temperatures could change rapidly over the next few days as weather systems move through Saskatchewan, according to Environment Canada’s Terri Lang.

“We will see some moderation on the weekend when we have another weather system come through with some cloud and snow — which we know tends to moderate temperatures — but in behind that, there will be an even stronger push of cold Arctic air. So we’re expecting some even colder temperatures early next week,” Lang said.

Environment Canada advised dressing warmly in layers, covering up exposed skin, and ensuring pets are warm enough.

In addition to the warnings in and around Saskatoon, several other extreme winter weather warnings were in effect Thursday afternoon for different parts of the province.

The northeastern corner of the province, including Cree Lake, Fond-du-Lac, Southend and Wollaston Lake, were all under extreme cold warnings, while snowfall warnings were issued for the City of Regina along with Assiniboia, Estevan, Fort Qu’Appelle, Maple Creek, Moose Jaw, Moosomin, Shaunavon, Swift Current, Weyburn, and Yorkton.