Most of British Columbia experienced extreme cold on Saturday morning, as Arctic air blew across the province.

Temperatures dropped to below -45 degrees Celsius in some areas and fell to -12 degrees Celsius in Vancouver, where winds made it feel like -23 degrees Celsius early Saturday morning.

The temperature in Victoria is -10 degrees Celsius, with cold winds making it feel like -20 degrees Celsius.

"No part of the province is expected to rise above freezing on Friday, and Tofino Airport is expected to be the warmest place at -2.5 degrees Celsius," according to Environment Canada.

After an unusually warm December, a cold air wave struck northern British Columbia. Low temperatures of up to -50 degrees Celsius are forecast at some locations. In Prince George, the icy winds make it feel like -30 degrees Celsius below zero, keeping people gathered but still challenging the cold.

The meteorological agency said the coldest area in British Columbia on Saturday morning was Pontzi Mountain Airport, about 320 kilometers north of Vancouver in the Cariboo region, where the lowest level was recorded at -47.4 degrees Celsius.

Other recorded cold points included:

-40 degrees Celsius in Dawson Creek

- 38 degrees Celsius in Prince George and Fort Nelson

- 37 degrees Celsius in Yoho National Park

- 36 degrees Celsius in Mackenzie

Environment Canada has also issued nearly twenty severe cold warnings across the province, stating that frostbite and hypothermia can occur within minutes if adequate precautions are not taken when outdoors.

The meteorological office said the risks associated with extreme cold are greater for children, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, those working or exercising outdoors, and people without proper shelter.

The government said earlier this week that residents need to prepare for dangerous road conditions, extreme cold temperatures, and an increased risk of avalanches.

Arctic weather extends across most of western Canada, with severe cold warnings also in effect across Alberta, Saskatchewan, large parts of Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Manitoba.