‘Extremely, extremely cold’ in Edmonton after warmest December on record

Coming off the warmest December on record, Edmontonians will be forgiven for being shocked by an extreme cold snap in mid January. An extreme cold warning was issued for the entire province of Alberta on Wednesday. “We’ve had an Arctic ridge of high pressure push into the province over the last couple of days,” Alysa Pederson, a warning preparedness meteorologist for Alberta with Environment and Climate Change Canada said on Thursday.

“This morning was the coldest day we’ve seen this week and it’s the coldest day we’ve seen this winter so far. “Edmonton city centre … at 11 a.m., was 34.8 C, so that’s definitely the coldest temperature we’ve seen in a long time.” Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Edmonton city centre … at 11 a.m., was 34.8 C, so that's definitely the coldest temperature we've seen in a long time." The last time Edmonton reached 34 C was in 2020, she said.

And the last time temperatures plummeted below 40 C was in 1972. Story continues below advertisement “The cold has come in but it’s not as bad as it’s going to get,” Pederson warned. “Our coldest morning is expected Saturday morning, but it’s similar to Friday morning. Once that cold air comes in, it’s really going to intensify.

“Our lows in the city are expected to be around 38 and 39 (Friday) morning and Saturday morning.” Outside the city limits, she said, the temperatures look more like 45. Get the latest National news. Sent to your email, every day. “Extremely, extremely cold temperatures,” Pederson said. 3:04 Edmonton weather forecast: Wednesday, Jan.

10, 2024 It’s especially shocking coming after a fairly mild and snow free winter up until now. “December ended up coming in for Edmonton as the warmest December on record,” Pederson said. “Most of our days — I think there were only two days that were below zero in December. Story continues below advertisement “So coming from that into this might make this extreme cold feel a little bit colder than we would maybe usually be used to by mid January.” Pederson stresses safety: reduce time outside as much as possible; cover all exposed skin, have goggles, scarf and mitts; and bring an emergency kit in your vehicle with a blanket and extra clothes.

“That’s why the extreme cold warnings go out with windchills of 40 or less. It’s because it can actually do damage. You can get frostbite within minutes in temperatures like this. “Parts of the province are going to see daytime highs in and around 40 over the next couple days,” Pederson said.

“When we start talking about temperatures like that, absolutely it’s some of the coldest places on Earth at this time. The only other place that might rival this is parts of northern Russia that are in latitudes further north than we are now.” The forecast indicates the coldest time will be Saturday morning.

It shows a slight improvement in the temperature early next week, but Environment Canada said below normal temperatures are likely to continue. 3:18 AMA tips to navigate icy roads The Edmonton International Airport said Thursday it was experiencing some flight impacts due to the extreme cold weather.

Story continues below advertisement Travellers are encouraged to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Also, the departures roadway is closed due to construction, which means travellers have a three to five minute walk outside between the temporary drop off area and the terminal. Alternatively, they can wait in the heated shelter for the shuttle.

The airport is offering complimentary coat check all winter. Related News All of Alberta under extreme cold warning as polar vortex sweeps in Where is Plowy McPlowface? Near real time map tracks Edmonton snowplows Extreme cold, Arctic outflow warnings cover most of B.C..