Deep freeze conditions continue across Calgary and Southern Alberta
Posted Feb 6, 2014 7:46 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Bundle up and plug in those vehicles if you haven’t already, it is going to be cold!
Deep freeze conditions are continuing for the city thanks to a slow moving ridge of Arctic high pressure.
The weather system is promising wind chills anywhere from minus 30 to minus 40 for Thursday morning.
660 Meteorologist David Spence said it’s too difficult to say how long this could last, it’s hard to say anything for certain after five to seven days.
“It looks like it is going to continue on through the weekend and into next week,” he explained. “But there are some indications this could break in the middle of next week.”
Wind chill warnings, where gusts will feel like minus 40 and below, are in place for the following areas: Brooks, Strathmore, Vulcan, Cardston, Fort Macleod, Magrath, Crowsnest Pass, Pincher Creek, Waterton Lakes National Park, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Foremost, Drumheller, Three Hills, Hanna, Coronation, Oyen, Lethbridge, Taber, Milk River, Medicine Hat, Bow Island and Suffield.
“Don’t find yourself outside for any lengthy period of time,” the meteorologist explained. “And if you do have to be outside for any lengthy period of time, get into as much shelter as you possibly can, take breaks, go inside, get inside a car or house, anywhere where there might be some heat to give you some relief.”
Spence said it will still feel cold in Calgary but we will be spared for the most part thanks to the protection from our buildings.
“The buildings in the city block the wind and there’s something called the ‘urban heat island’ in which heat coming off the buildings keeps the city a little warmer than what you’ll experience outside of Calgary,” he said.
Unlike Toronto which is experiencing one of the coldest winters on record in the last 20 years, it’s a different story for our region.
Spence said much of January was above zero and these deep-freezes are pretty typical for the city.
“We’ll get two or three of these outbreaks a year and they’ll last a week or slightly longer than a week,” he said.
Anyone who may have difficulty starting their car, be prepared to wait! The Alberta Motor Association is reporting waits for a boost, as of Thursday morning, of at least 16 hours.
