Dangerous cold batters Manitoba but there is hope on horizon

The licence plate slogan is Friendly Manitoba, but these days you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who isn't spouting a whole lot of profanity.

The deep freeze that has dug its claws into the province for a week now was at its most frigidWednesday morning and the entire province was once again under an extreme cold warning.

Here's a sampling of the temperatures at 7:30 a.m.:

• 39.9C in Winnipeg with a wind chill value of50.
• 40 C in Brandon with a wind chill value of55.
• 43 C in Thompsonwith a wind chill value of47.
• 37 C in Churchillwith a wind chill value of51.
• 42C in Lynn Lake with a wind chill value of55.

"It hasn't been this cold since Feb. 5, 2007," saidCBC meteorologist JohnSauder.

Despite the face-freezing cold, it's not a record. The coldest Jan. 30 on record in Winnipeg came in 1899, when the temperature sank to41.7 C, he said.

Not surprisingly, the cold has prompted another round of school closures and bus cancellations across this stretch of frozen prairie.

Although no schools are closed in the Winnipeg School Division, some buses were delayed for up to an hour due to maintenance issues such as buses not starting or breaking down.

SeeCBC Manitoba's Storm Centre for the latest road conditions, school cancellations, business and community closures, and power outages from across the province.

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Daytime highs around30 C are expected on Wednesday, regardless of whether someone lives close to Manitoba's border with Nunavutin the north or the United States in the south.

Butthe bitter north wind will make it feel more like 45to 55.At that rate, frostbite can occur on exposed skin in just two minutes or less, so bundle up if you need to go out.

Denise Morancie, who was waiting for a bus in downtown Winnipeg on Wednesday morning, said she dressed in about several layers "and about four socks" to go out.

Every year they keep saying it's the worst year. But today is the worst.- DeniseMorancie

"And I'm still feeling cold," she said. "Oh my god, I'm from the Caribbean and I want to go back."

Morancie has been in the city for about five years and said it hasn't become any easier to deal with the cold.

"Every year they keep saying it's the worst year. But today is the worst," she said.

Caroline Rodriguez, who was also braving the weather at a bus stop, said she was dressed in three pairs of pants, two sweaters, a long-sleeved shirt and her winter coat.

It's terribly cold, yes, but it's not unusual, she said, adding there's no avoiding a stretch like this at some point so you just have to deal with it.

"If you don't get it in December, you will get it in January or February or March. What do you expect? It's Winterpeg."

As a result of the glacial conditions, CAA Manitoba said it is "experiencing unprecedented call volume and wait times" for people needing a boost or tow for their frozen vehicles.

As a result, the auto association is givingpriority to members who are deemed to bein unsafe situations stranded on the roadside as opposed to those who happen to be at home and have shelter from the cold.

"Members have the option to call a third-party provider and submit the receipt forreimbursement," states a service alert from CAA.

Weekend warm up

However, there is hope on the horizon,.

A system tracking across the the western prairies will slowly bring increasing cloud cover overnight and into Thursday, according to Environment Canada.

That means temperatures will gradually begin to moderate from west to east across Manitoba. However, for areas closer to theNunavutborder, the dangerous wind chill values will likely persist into the weekend.

In the south, temperatures through the weekend should be closer to normal for this time of year, which is a daytime high of 11 C and overnight low of21 C.

"The deep freeze breaks for the weekend. You'll be able to safely get the kids outside for some winter fun," said Sauder.