Bundle up and plug in your vehicles – Calgary's heading for another cold snap
When you first stepped outside today, you would’ve noticed right away – the wintry weather has returned.
After a warm week, the temperatures have plunged and they're not done yet.
If we hit the forecast temperature on Thursday, it will be the coldest Dec. 1 since 1919.
At -9 C or so, it's already noticeable – less crowds, less enthusiasm.
"Not thrilled. I’ve got to say, not thrilled about that," one person said.
But with a high of around -20 C later this week, like it or not, it's time to prepare.
"Just kind of brace myself, tell myself it’s a lot warmer than it is, have a coffee," another person said.
After a warm week or so, outdoor rinks are in poor repair, ready for the volunteers who keep these community gems smooth to get back out with their hoses and make it safe to go in the corners again.
Frostbite can begin in just minutes when we hit double-digit negative temperatures.
"Cover as much skin as you can to prevent frostbite, dress in layers if possible … if you make a living outside, just look out after each other, try to take frequent breaks," said Adam Loria with EMS.
Frigid temperatures also mean thinking ahead.
Calls for flat batteries can increase significantly in these conditions, with AMA saying service calls are typically about six times higher when the mercury hits -15 C or lower.
"Start plugging in your vehicle. And really, that can be the difference between an engine that starts and one that doesn't, because typically we see about one call every 40 seconds when we see temperatures dip below -15 C, minus -20 C," said Ryan Lemont, manager of driver education with AMA.
Wintry weather can feel like a marathon, and that calls for a positive attitude – an embrace of this northern environment, some say.
"I just try to embrace it and take it for what it is … and my dog gets me out and it actually makes my day better to be outdoors," one person said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Calgary police shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers dealt with a distraught individual. The incident lasted almost 20 hours.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.