You may be able to give your vehicle's block heater a break for the next few days.

The extreme cold the Portage la Prairie region's seen recently, with temperatures as low as -40 C with the windchill, has passed. Environment Canada meteorologist Terri Lang says strong Chinook winds eroded the high pressure system of arctic air that was causing the bitter cold in the Prairies.

"This will certainly bring much milder temperatures, and it's really eroded the cold arctic air," Lang explains. "Much to the delight to a lot of people I'm sure, especially Christmas shoppers and alike."

Lang forecasts the warm air should stick around into the weekend, bringing daytime highs around zero. But, the cold arctic air is expected to return around Christmas. Temperatures will be more in line with seasonal norms, with daytime highs around -16 C and overnight lows into the minus 20s.