We may have been blessed with warmer temperatures in January, but winter has come back with a vengeance in Calgary for February.
Winsport made the decision on Monday to close the popular ski and snowboard hill at Canada Olympic Park because of extreme wind chill conditions.
The cold snap has settled over the city, but Calgarians were still outside despite the blast of arctic condtions.
If you’re thinking leaving town might help, you’ll have to head south as the cold mass stretches over most of the Prairies.
Wind chill is also a major concern in conditions like this. Calgary EMS suggests anyone going outside for a long period of time should dress in layers.
Officials also remind people that it is very important to stay dry and take some breaks from the cold in a warm place.
“If you’re out in the cold, stop every now and again and check your fingers and toes. Particularly toes inside work boots can be a concern but also check your co-workers as well. Keep an eye on fingers and toes and the earliest signs of frost nip can be avoided by simply getting into a warm environment,” says Stuart Brideaux, Calgary EMS.
The temperatures won’t be cold enough to affect schools, but it will prove to be a concern for kids walking to and from school or waiting for buses.
Children need to be dressed properly because they can be affected by the cold much more quickly than adults.
For Tuesday, Calgarians will be waking up to some light flurries that are only expected to leave a light amount of snow.
However, the snow is very dry so any wind, gusting up to 40 km/h from the north, will be blowing and could cause visibilty issues.
The wind chill is likely to be in the -30s through the day and into the night.
The rest of the week is expected to be bitterly cold as well, with the temperatures remaining well below the average high of -1 throughout the weekend.
(With files from Kelsey McEwen)
