After a bitterly cold start to the year weather-wise, relief is expected this week in Winnipeg. 

Most of the province has been mired in a near two week extreme cold warning. Forecasts of daytime highs in the mid-to-low minus 20s and overnight lows approaching the minus 50 mark with windchill have offered little reprieve. That is, until this week. 

"Later on this morning, the extreme cold warning should be dropped," says Environment Canada meteorologist Robyn Dyck. "We do have a system that is tracking through the northern prairies over the next few days and with that is bringing a whole bunch of southerly winds and warm air."

Temperatures are expected to rise steadily Monday into Tuesday before a seemingly balmy high of minus 2 with mainly cloudy skies in the afternoon. 

The rest of the week should remain above seasonal for this time of year with the mercury hovering around minus 10. 

"It'll be a good week to get outside," encourages Dyck, who notes that colder temperatures are expected to return by middle of next week. 

According to Environment Canada, seasonal highs are minus 13 with lows of minus 24.