Environment Canada has issued an extreme cold warning.
"A prolonged period of unseasonably cold temperatures will settle over the region this weekend and much of the this week," the agency said in the notice, issued for Prince George, Chilcotin, Quesnel, WIlliams Lake, Stuart-Nechako, 100 Mile, McGregor and Yellowhead regions.
"A very cold arctic air mass is has settled over the region," delivering bitterly cold temperatures and dangerous wind chill values.
Daily highs are forecast to decline to as low as -28 C on Thursday then warm back up to -4 C by Sunday. Overnight temperatures are to drop to near - 30 C with northeast winds 20 km/h gusting to 40 will result in wind chill values below - 40 C.
"Dress warmly," Environment Canada advised. "Dress in layers that you can remove if you get too warm. The outer layer should be wind resistant."
