Saskatoon's riverbank during a frigid cold snap, pictured on Jan. 24, 2021. (Brady Lang/650 CKOM)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Extreme cold warnings expected to continue in north, north-central regions until Tuesday: Environment Canada

Jan 24, 2021 | 3:39 PM

That cold weather isn’t expected to leave some areas of the province until early next week.

According to Environment Canada meteorologist Mike Russo, those along and north of the northern grain belt are in the thick of a system that is creating frigid conditions.

“We’ve had a ridge of high pressure, originated from the arctic but has settled over the central-prairies,” Russo explained.

“Those areas, generally staying under clear skies and with those clear skies, we’re seeing overnight lows generally dropping well into the – 30s C. You couple that together with winds of about 10, 15 km/h, that’s resulting in wind chill values of about – 40 C, if not colder.”

Russo said those areas, which include Saskatoon, Prince Albert and the Battlefords are expected to see a repeat of the frigid temperatures Sunday and Monday night.

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The meteorologist added that he doesn’t believe any records were broken overnight but added that it may feel colder right now, based on Saskatchewan’s mild winter.

“January right now, we’re looking at — normally — is the coldest time of the year for the area,” he said.

“The problem is right now that we’ve become so accustomed to seeing temperatures well above normal. As soon as you start seeing normal, or below normal values, they just feel that much colder.”

South of the Yellowhead Highway, however, it’s a bit of a different story.

“There is a series of weak disturbances that are bringing a bit of cloud cover along with some periods of light snow. That is providing a bit more insulation over those areas, so warnings are generally being ended for those general regions,” Russo said.

As of 1 p.m. Sunday, extreme cold warnings are issued for areas north of Kindersley, Outlook, Humboldt, Kamsack and their surrounding regions, all the way up to the border of the Northwest Territories.

Once the cold snap does lift, Russo said not to expect that mild weather we’ve become accustomed to.

“We’re looking at more seasonal values,” he said. “Forecasts are generally going to be looking at, or just slightly below average values for this time of year.”

Seasonal values in Saskatoon sit between – 10 C and – 19 C. In Regina, they sit between – 10 C and – 23 C for this time of year.