A harsh Arctic air mass remains in command of the atmosphere in most of Western Canada, with all of Alberta in the crosshairs. This has prompted Environment Canada to keep in effect an extreme cold warning, alerting every Albertan man, woman, and child of the dangers of weather this cold.
According to Environment Canada meteorologist, Paul Silvestro, the forecasted daytime high of -34°C in Edmonton has not been recorded in decades.
“The last time Edmonton hit a forecast high of around -32°C was actually in 1966, so it has been quite a bit since we’ve seen these chilly temperatures,” Silvestro said.
The Heartland area on the outskirts of Edmonton is predicted to be colder than Edmonton by approximately 5°C.
“Particularly in and around the Edmonton region, the cold air has settled in,” Silvestro said. “This will continue for the next couple of days. It looks like tonight, we will see similar conditions, if not a little chillier.”
Silvestro predicts the wind chill could approach the -55°C mark, particularly in the outlying areas of the Capital region, including Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, and Strathcona , Sturgeon and Lamont counties.
While the extreme cold warnings will continue through the weekend, Silvestro predicts the temperatures will warm to a non-polar, albeit still below the seasonal values of a high of -3°C and a low of -8°C, at a currently forecasted highs and lows on Monday of -19°C and -29°C respectively.
Silvestro reiterates that older adults and younger children are at the greatest risk in extreme cold.
“Watch for cold related symptoms, shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain, weakness, and dress warmly if you have to be outside,” Silvestro said, adding that frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as five minutes with such severe cold.
For an up to date forecast for Edmonton, check with Environment Canada.
