An extreme cold warning is in effect Saturday for Regina and many other parts of southern Saskatchewan as wind chills drop to the minus 40 C range.

Along with Regina, the warning extends to Moose Jaw and Swift Current as well as the Yorkton region and Weyburn and Estevan.

Further north Saskatoon and surrounding area is under the same warning.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the bitterly cold temperatures will last into the early parts of next week.

In Regina the daytime highs for Saturday and Sunday are expected to be around minus 26 C, with overnight lows dropping into the low minus 30s.

The average high for the Queen City on Jan. 18 is about minus 11 C, with the overnight low normally around minus 23 C.

Saturday’s morning forecast shows highs closer to zero by Thursday and Friday.