Extreme cold warnings are now in effect as Saskatchewan enters a cold snap, which is expected to last until the end of the week.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued warnings for large swaths of eastern Saskatchewan, spanning from the southeast corner to regions north of Saskatoon.

The cold, arctic air mass, which has settled over parts of southern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba, is expected to result in overnight lows of -30 C and lower.

These cold temperatures combined with northerly winds of 10 to 15 km/h will produce extreme wind chill values of minus 40 and colder, the warning for the city of Regina read.

Temperatures are expected to begin moderating on Thursday.

A large portion of northern Saskatchewan is also under a warning – with the weather service expecting wind chills to push overnight lows to near -45 C.

With extreme cold warnings, the weather service reminds residents that frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially when paired with wind chill.