Parts of the Prairies about to see a 40-degree temperature swing upwards
Get ready to finally thaw out on the Prairies, as an exceptional spring-like warm-up is on the way
February will be a month to remember for the extreme cold conditions across the Prairies, with temperatures nearing dangerous lows into the -50s this week.
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"Cover up. Frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill," said Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), in yet another extreme cold warning that was renewed for much of the region early on Thursday.
In fact, extreme cold alerts have stretched over 3000 km this week, from the Prairies, right down into Texas.
Days of dangerously cold conditions
Last weekend, temperatures fell to the -50s in the northern parts of the Prairie provinces, while those in the southern portions saw temperatures drop below -50 with the wind chill.
Temperatures remained more than 20 degrees below normal for a majority of the region to start out this week. Saskatoon saw temperatures feel like -46 with the wind chill, while those in Manitoba, specifically Brandon, saw the most frigid temperatures, with a wind chill of -51 throughout Monday. Key Lake, Sask., reported temperatures reaching -48.8°C on Monday--only 0.2°C away from its monthly record.
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Pattern change with some major temperature improvements
A blocking pattern off the coast of B.C. is decaying, and will allow for the return of onshore Pacific flow. That will bring a rapid change from below seasonal temperatures, to well above seasonal by the end of the week and weekend.
Warmer air will start to flow into Alberta on Thursday, with high temperatures finally cracking the freezing mark by the weekend. These will be the first temperatures above zero for many in Saskatchewan and Manitoba in over a month's time.
Across southern sections of Alberta, daytime highs could actually near or reach double-digit values by Saturday!
This will be a major temperature rebound, with 40-degree increases for places like Saskatoon and Regina, Sask. In Calgary, Alta., a 35°C warm-up is on the way.
A couple of weak systems will track across the region this weekend and early next week, but no major storms are in sight.
Light snowfall, and some mixing with freezing drizzle or rain is possible as the milder air flows in along a boundary across northern areas this weekend.
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Stay with The Weather Network for more forecast information and updates on your weather across the Prairies.