Record-breaking cold in Sask. has been far from February norms: climatologist [Video]

Although much of Canada is focused on the extraordinary amount of snow dumped on parts of Ontario and Quebec, Saskatchewan is experiencing its own attention-grabbing weather system — a polar vortex. 

The province has spent days in an extended cold snap, with some areas recording temperatures below –40 C and wind chill making it feel more like –50 C.

On Tuesday, the entire province remained under an extreme cold warning. 

David Phillips, a climatologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada, said that February in Saskatchewan is typically warmer than January. This year has been a rare exception. 

“When you look at all of the whole month in places like, for example, Regina, the temperatures have been about almost 12 or 13 degrees colder than they should be,” Phillips told CBC’s Morning Edition on Tuesday.

WATCH | What is a polar vortex? It’s cold, it’s icy and it’s dreaded by Canadians across the country. It’s the polar vortex. Weather …