WATCH ABOVE: Daintre Christensen delivers the weather forecast for Friday, January 9, 2015 on the Global Edmonton Morning News.
EDMONTON – A blast of cold weather blanketed the Capital Region and parts of northwestern Alberta early Friday morning.
Environment Canada issued extreme cold warnings for areas around Edmonton, stretching from Vegreville to Whitecourt. The warnings — which were dropped later Friday morning — also extended north towards the Grande Prairie and Peace River regions.
According to Environment Canada, light winds and very cold temperatures generated extreme wind chill values.
“There is a risk of frostbite and hypothermia but the good news is that will end later this morning as we warm up to -14°C,” said Global Edmonton weather and traffic specialist Daintre Christensen.
Meanwhile, several days of very cold temperatures have meant a lot of power use in homes and businesses across the province. In fact, Alberta set records for electricity use.
Some Albertans choose to embrace the winter weather with a sense of humour.
The Long John Index publishes its version of the daily forecast, complete with a summary of how many pairs of thermal long underwear it feels people should be wearing that day, depending on where they live.
Here are some tips for braving the cold:
- Wear clothing appropriate for the weather. Synthetic and wool fabrics provide better insulation. Some synthetics are designed to draw perspiration away from the body.
- If you get wet, change into dry clothes as soon as possible. You lose heat faster when you’re wet.
- Dress in layers with a wind resistant outer layer. You can remove some if you get too warm (before you start sweating) or add a layer if you get cold.
- Wear warm socks, gloves, a hat and scarf in cold weather. Cover your nose to protect it.
Want your weather on the go? Download Global News’ Skytracker weather app for iPhone, iPad and Android.
This story was originally published Friday morning, but was updated a few hours later after the Environment Canada warnings were dropped.
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