Highs in the -20s coming as bitter Arctic air freezes Western Canada
A bitter chill will soon spill over the western half of Canada as highs will struggle to get out of the -20s for many communities
Winter has plenty of catching up to do across Canada this season as El Niño takes its toll on weather patterns throughout the country.
The atmosphere seems to want to catch up all at once, though, as Western Canada prepares for a dramatic dive from above-seasonal to far below-seasonal temperatures by next week.
MUST SEE: What is the polar vortex? How it’s responsible for dangerous cold
It’s been an exceptionally warm start to the winter across the Prairies, with many communities across the region escaping any days below -20°C through New Year’s Day.
Fort McMurray would typically have seen 20 days below -20°C by the start of the year—they’ve seen none so far this season.
DON'T MISS: Winter to finally show up in January as El Niño bested by polar vortex
Things are going to change in a hurry across the Prairies as a flip in the pattern opens the gates for frigid air to spill out of the heart of the Arctic Circle.
The polar vortex will drive this rapid change in wintry fortunes across the western half of Canada. This large-scale circulation high above the Arctic acts like a fence keeping the bitterest chill confined to the higher latitudes. When the polar vortex weakens and grows unstable, those frigid temperatures can spill south.
Take advantage of this weekend’s weather if you’re hoping for one last taste of above-seasonal conditions, as it may be a while before you see such relative warmth again.
Calgary’s predicted high of -1°C on Saturday is slightly above seasonal, while Medicine Hat’s 4°C is a full 10 degrees above normal for the first weekend of January.
MUST SEE: The chilling truth behind wind chill and its impact on our well-being
Temperatures will steadily plummet across the region through next week as the bitter chill inches its way south across the region.
It’s going to feel absolutely brutal outside by Thursday, when most of the Prairies won’t be able to crack -20°C during the day. Calgary’s predicted high of -22°C on Thursday is nearly 20 degrees below seasonal for the date.
Wind chills will come in even colder for the duration of this spell of frigid conditions, with values dipping into the -40s at times. This kind of dangerously cold weather could lead to frostbite or hypothermia in a matter of minutes without proper protection.
Forecasters expect this pattern of far-below seasonal temperatures to persist straight through the middle of January.
Stay with The Weather Network for the latest on conditions across the Prairies.
