Top 5 things to do During a Chinook
Calgary bureau reporter
Saturday, January 24, 2015, 1:18 PM - Sure there’s the Rocky Mountains, but what you’ll find most of us here in Southern Alberta bragging about is the Chinooks.
These wind events are almost exclusive to our part of the province and most noticeable in our frigid winter months. The warm winds, that generate from the coast of British Columbia and warm as they make their way up and over the Rockies, can cause temperatures to rise by as much as 10 degrees in just one hour.
So one day, you’ve got your parka and toques on and the next, well, you could be into one of our top 5 things to do during a Chinook.
1. Hit a patio
Maybe it's my selfishness coming through here but I can't really imagine anything better than forgetting it's winter by sitting outside sipping on a cool one when those warm winds are blowing and bringing us spring-like conditions.
What kind of cool one you choose is up to you, just go enjoy it on a patio!
2. Go play in the snow – if there’s any left, that is.
The word Chinook means “Snow Eater” in Blackfoot and when you’ve got surface temperatures rising by as much as 5 degrees an hour, a light snow pack will start to melt fairly quickly. When the temps are in the low double digits however and you’ve got a hefty heaping of snow, it’s likely to endure the Chinook and provide the perfect balance for playing in and enjoying the white stuff without risk of frostbite.
3. Become a Photographer for a Day
A Chinook Arch can look intimidating and even ominous to the casual viewer but for those of us in southern Alberta, they are a thing of beauty - especially at sunset.
Some breathtaking photos are easily captured by even the most amateur of shutterbugs.
4. Hold on to your hats
A Chinook is a wind event after all, and the further south you go in Alberta the more likely you are to encounter hurricane force winds.
Places like Lethbridge, Pincher Creek and the Crow’s Nest Pass have been known to get blasted by gusts of up to 120 km/h.
5. Count your blessings
As wonderful as Chinooks can be, don’t be fooled. They aren’t an indication that spring is just around the corner.
They typically only last a day or two so don’t take them for granted and enjoy them while you can because there’s still a lot of winter left!
TUNE IN: With another warm-up coming, Deb Matejicka will be live from Lethbridge on Monday. Catch it on The Weather Network on TV!
