Prairies: Deep freeze locks in, wind chill of -40 or colder is possible
A deep freeze has taken hold across the Prairies and shows no sign of letting up anytime soon. In fact, temperatures are about to get much colder through the week, with stationary Arctic air across the region -- prompting extreme cold warnings. Details and timing, below.
WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS
- Dangerously cold air grips the Prairies through next week, warnings in place
- Stay up-to-date on the ALERTS in your area
WARNINGS ISSUED AS COLD INTENSIFIES
Environment Canada has issued extreme cold warnings for central and northern Alberta and parts of western Saskatchewan as a result of the deepening cold. Frigid and dangerous temperatures will persist through the week with the Arctic air in place. As the week progresses, warnings may be expanded to other regions.
The intense cold is a result of a cross-polar flow that is pulling in some of the chilliest air in the Northern Hemisphere. With the deep freezes comes the risk for frostbite, so it is recommended to limit your time outdoors to avoid exposure and symptoms from the cold air.
"Watch for cold-related symptoms: Shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes. If it's too cold for you to stay outside, it's too cold for your pet to stay outside," Environment Canada warns. "Outdoor workers should take regularly scheduled breaks to warm up."
Daytime highs will approach or exceed -30°C for much of the region, with wind chills making them feel like the -30s and even into the -40s for some areas. The City of Edmonton could potentially set a new record low Tuesday, as temperatures are forecasted to hit -33°C (wind chill making it feel like -41°C), which would break the old record of -28.3°C from 2005.
Visit our Complete Guide to Winter 2019/2020 for an in-depth look at the Winter Forecast, tips to plan for it and a sneak peek at the spring season next year
To put it into perspective, Edmonton could be among the coldest places on Earth Tuesday, comparable to two other regions known for their extremely frigid air -- Yellowknife, N.W.T. and Yakutsk, Russia.
A couple of systems next week are expected to bring periods of mostly light snow, but strong winds at times will produce extensive blowing snow and dangerous wind chills.
Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest forecast updates.
