Extreme cold warnings continue as slippery roads close Highway 1 in southwestern Manitoba

Most of Manitoba is again facing extreme cold Thursday morning along with the closure of a section of a major highway in southwestern Manitoba.

Westbound lanes on Highway 1 from Virden to the Saskatchewan border are closed due to slippery road conditions, as are eastbound lanes from Virden to Highway 21.

The entire southern half as well as the northwestern corner of the province is facing extreme cold warnings due to the same Arctic airmass that has kept frigid temperatures and bitter winds locked in the province for days.

Most regions in the southern half of Manitoba are expected to experiencewind chill in the40 to 45 range, where temperatures were in the30 C to34 range as of 6 a.m. Sections of the Interlake including Gimlifaced temperatures in the37 C range.

Temperatures in the northwestern corner of the province were in the35 C range, with forecast wind chill of45,Environment Canada says.

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.
• Brochet.
• Dauphin, Russell, Roblin andWinnipegosis.
• Dugald,Beausejour and Grand Beach.
• Grand Rapids and Waterhen.
• Killarney, Pilot Mound and Manitou.
• Lynn Lake, Leag Rapids, Pukatawagan.
• 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.
• Sprague and Northwest Angle Provincial Forest.
• Ste. Rose,McCreary, Alonsa and Gladstone.
• Steinbach,St. Adolphe, Emerson, Vita andRicher.
• Swan River, Duck Mountain andPorcupine Provincial Forest.
• Tadoule Lake.
• Virden and Souris.
• Whiteshell,Lac du Bonnet andPinawa.

Extreme cold brings an elevated risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Young people, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, those exercising or working outside and the homeless are at even greater risk.

Manitobansare warned to be mindful ofcold-weather related symptoms, including chest pain, shortness of breath, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and discolourationin fingers and toes, the weather agency says.