Environment Canada has extended a blowing snow warning for the Southwest into late this afternoon, but after enduring near zero visibilities are are now bracing for extreme windchill values.
Swift Current's temperature fell to -24 Celsius at 5 p.m., and when combined with northwest winds of 52 kilometers per hour, gusting to 67, the wind chill felt more like -41.
Environment Canada explains that a cold front which began sweeping across Saskatchewan this morning brought an area of snow and produced very strong winds. This resulted in widespread reduced visibility for much of the day in snow and blowing snow. Near zero visibility lingered in the Southwest even as the snow moved further east. Towards the Alberta border, winds have now begun to abate and conditions continue to improve. These near zero visibilities will continue this evening in affected regions before the winds further diminish.
Environment Canada warns that as cold Arctic air settles over Saskatchewan tonight, wind chill values are expected to dip to -40 to -43 over the central to south-eastern portions of the province. Wind chill values will moderate on Wednesday morning, however dangerous wind chills are expected to redevelop tomorrow night over a similar region.
At these extreme wind chill values frostbite on exposed skin may occur in less than 10 minutes.
