An extreme cold warning has been issued for all of New Brunswick as an Arctic airmass envelopes the province this weekend.

The coldest wind chill values will be near minus 45 and frostbite on exposed skin within minutes is a real possibility.

Environment Canada meteorologist Jill Maepea said the season has been so warm so far which means we’re really going to feel it.

“It’s just been this winter we really haven’t seen one (cold snap) and it I think this one is actually coming in a bit more intense than we’ve seen in definitely the past few winters,” noted Maepea.

“You will see the coldest temperatures on Friday night with many areas of the province down to minus 30°C or colder.”

The extreme cold will move into the region starting Friday morning and will stick around until Sunday when temperatures will moderate and winds will subside.