Environment Canada has some bad news for Moose Jaw residents for the final six days before Christmas. 

Starting on Monday through the week they are tracking a high-pressure system bringing with it bone-chilling temperatures that will plant its feet over southern Saskatchewan.  

“A Mackenzie Screamer is set to come through. It will probably bring some snow with it – about five to eight centimetres,” says Environment Canada Meteorologist, Terri Lang. “They have a big push of cold air behind them coming straight from Siberia. The coldest air will be in southern Saskatchewan probably Tuesday into Wednesday morning.” 

Lang adds that this system will bring the overnight lows around -30°C with the wind chill values even colder at -40°C, which could spark Extreme Cold Warnings for much of next week.  

With the longest night of the year approaching on Dec. 21, the presence of this storm won’t make it easy on residents.  

“When the temperatures get this cold any amount of wind is really going to increase the wind chill,” adds Lang. “When we’re getting into the –30 to –40-degree wind chill factors we’re starting to get into the dangerous category, meaning exposed skin can freeze very quickly and frostbite can set in along with hypothermia.” 

She suggests dressing in layers as the air between the layers, helps insulate the heat inside of you. In addition, keep your hands, face, and head covered as much as possible to limit that exposure to the cold. 

When we’re talking about the wind chill, the wind doesn’t change the temperature it just makes it feel a lot colder. The wind chill describes how fast heat will leave your body. 

Frostbite is the freezing of the skin and tissues below the skin. It occurs when a person is exposed to freezing temperatures [ 0°C (32°F)] or lower for too long.  

How severe the frostbite depending on how long the person was exposed to cold, the temperature, the wind chill, and the humidity. Frostbite is most likely to occur on the feet, hands, ears, nose, and face.   

Pain may be severe as the frostbitten skin rewarms. Swelling and blisters are common after rewarming.  

Medical treatment for frostbite includes relieving pain and quickly rewarming the frostbite area. This can help prevent problems such as infection, dead tissue, or amputation of the frozen part. 

Another thing is people will want to stay as dry as possible throughout this week's cold snap.  

“That’s why people fall into the ice and get wet, why the risk of hypothermia sets in much more quickly. Because when you’re wet you get colder a lot faster so try and stay as dry as you can and limit your time outside.” 

Temperatures will begin to drop on Monday as a daytime high of only -20°C is forecasted, followed by colder temperatures such as –25°C on Tuesday and -26°C on Wednesday.  

If you’re planning on taking to travelling on area highways this week, Lang advises checking the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline and your local forecast before leaving.