Extreme cold warnings issued for western Canada

A cold snap was hitting western Canada on Sunday, with record low temperatures plunging cities into extreme conditions.

According to Environment Canada, an extreme cold warning was in effect for numerous locations including the city of Saskatoon. Environment Canada's officials expected cold wind chills for multiple days, due to an arctic ridge of high pressure pushing cold air into parts of Saskatchewan.

The government agency said the coldest spot in Canada Sunday afternoon was minus 50 Celsius in Rabbit Kettle in the northwest territories of Canada. The agency says extreme cold warnings are issued when very cold temperatures create an elevated risk to health such as frost bite and hypothermia.