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Northern Alberta braces for bitter cold amid warnings of -40 overnight wind chill

A map of Alberta with areas in pink indicating where an extreme cold warning was issued by Environment Canada on March 29, 2018. Jesse Beyer/ Global News

Winter may be over but spring has certainly not yet sprung for much of northern Alberta as people in that part of the province were being told to prepare for bone-chilling temperatures overnight.

On Thursday afternoon, Environment Canada issued an extreme cold warning for much of northern Alberta, advising the intensly frigid conditions were expected to develop overnight and persist into Friday morning.

“A strong arctic high is dropping in some very cold temperatures to northern Alberta,” Global Edmonton meteorologist Jesse Beyer said, adding, “-30s are possible on thermometers and -40s with the wind chill is possible.

“The southwest edge of the arctic air will interact with an incoming low-pressure system tonight and that may lead to 10 to 20 centimetres of snow in some areas.”

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READ MORE: Snowfall warnings for west-central Alberta heading into Easter weekend

Environment Canada issues extreme cold warnings when “very cold temperatures or wind chill creates an elevated risk to health, such as frost bite and hypothermia.”

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The weather agency warned people in affected areas to cover up in order to prevent frostbite and to keep their pets inside until the cold subsides.

“Between the cold and snow, long weekend travel plans should be with extreme caution,” Beyer said.

Watch below: In January 2014, Sean Mallen filed this report looking at what wind chill is, how it’s measured and how it affects you.

READ MORE: Calgary under special weather statement as snow, high winds expected

For a complete list of weather warnings, watches and advisories in Alberta, click here.

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