Albertans should beware the cold rather than the Ides of March. Environment Canada issued another extreme cold warning for the entire province on Friday afternoon.
“Another arctic air mass will take over Alberta tonight, and will stick around through the weekend,” Global Edmonton meteorologist Jesse Beyer said. “Temperatures will drop near -30 C in much of the province, with wind chills for many below -40.”
Beyer said the frigid temperatures should stick around through the weekend.
Edmontonians can expects temperatures in the -15 C to -20 C range for the weekend.
WATCH BELOW: Meteorologist Jesse Beyer has our seven-day weather forecast for the Edmonton area. A cold week but there is a reprieve on the horizon.
In Calgary, it’s expected to be around the -29 C mark and around -32 C for Lethbridge.
In southern Alberta, the wind chills are expected to be in the -30 to -40 degree range, according to Global Calgary meteorologist Paul Dunphy.
Dunphy said it’s “extremely rare” for the entire province to be under an extreme cold warning at the same time and that the wind-chill values should lessen Saturday afternoon. He expects Environment Canada will start to lift the warnings at that time.
Albertans should be used to the warnings by now, but Environment Canada warned that extreme cold puts everyone at risk. Anyone spending time outside should bundle up as frostbite can set in within minutes, especially with the wind chill.
The weather agency also warned pet owners to think of their furry friends in these conditions.
“If it’s too cold for you to stay outside, it’s too cold for your pet to stay outside.”
February was an extremely cold month across the province. Calgary experienced the coldest February in 828 months.
Edmonton had the coldest February in 40 years.
Extreme cold warnings are issued when very cold temperatures or wind chill creates an elevated risk to health like frostbite or hypothermia.
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