LETHBRIDGE, AB – We’re in for the coldest Christmas here in southern Alberta in about five or six years.
Very cold arctic air is pushing south and that will drop temperatures significantly across the prairies for an extended period of time.
Environment Canada’s Kyle Fougere says the Christmas weekend here is going to be quite chilly to say the least.
“We are going to get into the -20’s for our daytime highs,” said Fougere. “Likely going to see temperatures in the -30’s for overnight lows. It looks like that’s going to stick around for probably the next week. Once this arctic air gets in, there’s no real strong signal for it to depart.”
There is some snow expected here over the next week as well, but it’s the cold that will be the main issue. Fougere notes there is a chance of flurries across southern Alberta from Christmas Eve right through to next Tuesday.
It’s not just Alberta which will be under the grip of Old Man Winter for a while, the bitter cold will impact Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well.
So, if you are out and about over the next while make sure you bundle up and dress warm to prevent frostbite, especially in the evening hours when it’s the coldest.