Winter is taking an icy grip on the province this week, prompting Environment Canada to issue extreme cold warnings for parts of the south.

The national forecaster says an arctic ridge of high pressure sitting over the southwestern portion of the province this morning has brought frigid temperatures to much of the central prairies.

Combined with southwest winds of 15 to 20 km/h, wind chill values of minus 40 are occurring this morning in some communities close to the Saskatchewan border. That's prompted the weather agency to declare an extreme cold warning for the Parkland region.

Roblin, Man. is one of those communities, with a temperature of -29 and wind chill of -40 at 6:20 a.m. Dauphin has a wind chill value of -35.

Environment Canada says conditions should improve later this morning as temperatures increase to the -20 range in that area.

Environment Canada reminds residents that cold weather poses a risk for everyone. Risks are greater for young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, people working or exercising outdoors, and those without proper shelter.

Frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill.