Menacing cold filters onto the Prairies as the polar vortex moves
The atmospheric floodgates have swung open and allowed bitterly cold air to spill south over the western half of Canada, especially the Prairies. A piece of the polar vortex will bring in exceptionally cold air over the region, with temperatures diving into the -30s and even -40s.
There is also the potential for Northern Canada to see its first -50°C-reading in eight years, which is a sign of how potent this looming cold snap truly is.
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Make sure you are properly dressed if going outside for any amount of time, which should be limited because of the health risks associated with exposure. The Arctic front will yield potentially dangerous cold temperatures in Western Canada for the next several days.
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Daytime highs will struggle to climb out of the -20s for much of Alberta and Saskatchewan throughout this week. Extreme cold warnings are in place for several regions.
The coldest temperatures are expected by mid-week, when folks could endure temperatures dipping below -30°C. It's likely overnight lows will hit -40°C or below, outside of urban areas. Any winds will make temperatures feel even colder.
Communities in the valleys of northern Yukon, including Dawson and Mayo, could see temperatures drop to or below -50°C this week. This would be the first reading of -50°C or colder in Canada since February 2014, when Eureka, Nunavut, hit -50.4°C.
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Air temperatures this cold will threaten the health and safety of anyone who spends too long outdoors, even folks who are acclimated to the bitter chill. Frostbite on exposed skin can occur in as little as two minutes when temperatures or wind chill values dip to -40 or below.
The extreme cold should relax in time for the Christmas weekend.
Check back for the latest on the impending snow and dangerous cold across Western Canada.
