Extreme cold warnings, snowfall warnings issued in southern, central Alberta

Polar air continues to flow across much of the country, prompting extreme cold warnings – including in the Yukon and Northwest Territories, northern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as central Alberta, Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba.  

Extreme cold warnings are issued when either temperatures and/or wind chill values reach values of at least -40 for at least two hours.

As incoming Pacific system will bring rain to the southern British Columbia coastline Friday and transition to snow in the B.C. interior once it encounters the western edges of the colder air mass.

As this new modified system crosses the southern Rockies, it is expected to intensify and produce more snow along the southern Alberta border.

Early Friday, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a snowfall warning for southwestern Alberta in anticipation of 10 to 15 centimetres of snow from Friday into Saturday.  

In their warning for the City of Lethbridge, ECCC explains "visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow."

Temperatures in Calgary will remain cold until Monday, with daytime highs dipping below average overnight lows of -15 C on Friday.

A reversal in the pattern will occur here early next week bringing overnight lows above average daytime high values of -3 C.