With temperatures having plummeted as forecast on Sunday into Monday, Southern Manitoba now finds itself in the grips of an unseasonably cold spell.
Just how frosty was confirmed mid-Monday afternoon with the issuing of an Extreme Cold Warning by Environment and Climate Change Canada for Southwestern Manitoba including Brandon, Minnedosa, Virden, Melita and other Municipalities and towns in the region.
According to the warning overnight lows are expected to fall to near minus 30 on Monday night into Tuesday morning accompanying windchill values at or exceeding the minus 40 threshold used to base an Extreme Cold Warning upon.
The text of the warning advises to "watch for cold related symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes. Dress warmly. Dress in layers that you can remove if you get too warm. The outer layer should be wind resistant."
Currently at the time of this posting the ECCC forecast for Brandon calls for an overnight low of minus 30 degrees on Monday and a wind chill value of minus 41. After a high on Tuesday of just minus 20, Tuesday's low is seen as falling to minus 31 alongside a wind chill of minus 43. After -20/-24 respectively for Wednesday's high/low, meaningful improvement is expected by Thursday with a daytime of of -12. It's advised checking the current forecast for the most up-to-date information.
Brandon's record low for December 10th of -36.7 (1948) looks safe, however the forecast would seem to suggest that December 11th's lowest-ever -31.7 (1975) is at risk based on what's forecast for first-thing Wednesday morning.
A listing of all current weather warnings for the province can be reviewed at:
https://weather.gc.ca/warnings/index_e.html?prov=mb