Polar Vortex ‘overstatement’: Calgary meteorologist
Posted Jan 27, 2023 3:23 pm.
Last Updated Jan 27, 2023 6:58 pm.
A major snowfall has hit Calgary and has caused road disruptions and heavy traffic on Friday, but it’s not expected to last.
CityNews Meteorologist Michael Kuss says a “Polar Vortex” hitting Calgary is an “overstatement.”
“It’s more of a Manitoba event and Minnesota down into the upper American Midwest. And in Alberta, we’re just on the fringes of it,” Kuss said.
“Although that arctic air is backing all the way up into B.C., when we see something like this that only lasts a couple of days and we don’t even get down to minus 30, you know, it’s not that substantial.”
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Temperatures Friday are sitting around -6 C as of 3 p.m., according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
While the vortex is said to hit the fringes of the city, Friday’s overnight temperatures are expected to dip below -20 C, with the weekend teetering near -30 C with wind chill.
“As that snow pushes through and the cold air will follow, and that’s what we’re going to see late day through Friday, Saturday, Sunday,” Kuss said.
“It’s not a long-term event, but it’s a pretty good arctic blast. Unfortunately, timing all right for the weekend.”
Kuss says the cold will be short-lived, with temperatures starting to climb back by early next week.
