This town saw temperatures jump 20 degrees in just one hour

Digital WritersThe Weather Network
Digital Writers

Temperatures soared nearly 20 degrees in an hour when the winds came roaring down the Rockies.

Imagine your temperatures rising 20 degrees in just an hour.

If you live in Alberta, all you had to do to experience such a wild swing was get up before your alarm on Wednesday morning.

A formidable bout of Chinook winds on Wednesday morning sent temperatures soaring by 20 degrees in just an hour, a remarkable warmup that was probably responsible for more than a few migraines throughout Alberta.

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Folks all across the Prairies went to bed on Tuesday night under the influence of the polar vortex. Across Alberta, southeasterly winds kept temperatures in the mid-20s below zero heading into the overnight hours.

Suddenly, around 3 o’clock in the morning local time, southeasterly winds gave way to westerly winds and things changed in a hurry.

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Temperatures in Claresholm rose from -22°C at 2:00 a.m. to -20°C at 3:00 a.m., then rocketed up to -1°C by 4:00 a.m, where the warmth remained locked-in through sunrise.

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Communities all across the foothills experienced similar temperature jumps during the wee hours on Wednesday as the Chinook event took hold. Farther up the QE2, Calgary International Airport reported a temperature of -22°C at 2:00 a.m., rising to around the freezing mark by sunrise.

Chinook winds are responsible for some of Canada’s most intense temperature swings.

Westerly winds lose their moisture as they blow up and over the Rocky Mountains. These dry winds then warm up as they race down the eastern slopes toward communities in Alberta’s foothills, buffeting residents with blustery conditions and a sudden jump in temperatures.