Extreme cold warnings continue for most of Manitoba

The frigid temperatures Manitoba saw over the long weekend continue on Tuesday, with extreme cold warnings in effect for most of the province.

The warnings were extended for most of the province again early Tuesdaymorning, aside from the far north and a few pockets along the east and west of the province.

Temperatures were between30 Cand34 C through much of the south at 6 a.m., with wind chill in the low to mid40s.

Regions further north, including Thompson and Norway House, experienced temperatures between37C and41 C, with wind chill in the45 to50 range.

Several highway stretches were closed due to poor road conditionsTuesday, includingHighway 2from Highway 21 to Highway 342 in southwestern Manitoba, which was closed shortly after noon.

Highway 23 was closedfrom Highway 18 to Highway 21 but reopened shortly before 9 a.m.

Highway 18, from Highway 2 to Highway 23, remained close early Tuesday afternoon.

The bittercold isa result of an Arctic air mass that is expected to hang over Manitoba for the next few days, Environment Canada says.

The wind chill is forecast to moderate somewhat through the morning Tuesday before getting worse again in the evening.

The following areas are under extreme cold warnings:

• Winnipeg.
• Arborg, Hecla, Fisher River,Gypsumville and Ashern.
• Berens River, Little Grand Rapids, Bloodvein andAtikaki.
• Bissett, Victoria Beach, Nopiming Provincial Park andPine Falls.
• Brandon,Neepawa,Carberry and Treherne.
• Dauphin, Russell, Roblin and Winnipegosis.
• Dugald,Beausejour and Grand Beach.
• Flin Flon, Cranberry Portage andSnow Lake.
• Gillam.
• Grand Rapids and Waterhen.
• Killarney, Pilot Mound and Manitou.
• Melita, Boissevain andTurtle Mountain Provincial Park.
• Minnedosa andRiding Mountain National Park.
• Morden,Winkler,Altona andMorris.
• Poplar River.
• Portage la Prairie,Headingley,Brunkild and Carman.
• Selkirk, Gimli, Stonewall and Woodlands.
• Shamattawa.
• Sprague and Northwest Angle Provincial Forest.
• Ste. Rose,McCreary, Alonsa and Gladstone.
• Steinbach,St. Adolphe, Emerson, Vita andRicher.
• Swan River, Duck Mountain, Porcupine Provincial Forest.
• Thompson, Nelson House, Split Lake.
• Virden and Souris.
• Whiteshell,Lac du Bonnet andPinawa.

Extreme cold warnings bring an elevated risk of frostbite and hypothermia.

Environment Canada warns Manitobans to keep an eye on cold-weather related symptoms, including chest pain, shortness of breath, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and discolourationin fingers and toes.