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Temporary reprieve from extreme cold on the way for Southern Alberta

Dec 29, 2021 | 11:30 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – While falling short of any record-breaking lows in Southern Alberta, people in the province have endured an extremely cold last couple of weeks.

Mostly in the central and northern regions, seven daily minimum temperature records were broken on December 28 with Vegreville’s -44.6 low breaking the town’s record set back in 1968.

Environment Canada Meteorologist Natalie Hasell says the province has been under the influence of both an arctic surface ridge from the north and an upper-low ridge from the east.

The combination of the two has led to a chilly Christmas break.

The good news, at least for those in the southern region, is that we will have a couple of warmer days before the mercury drops once again.

She says Lethbridge and the surrounding area will see an interesting weather pattern develop on Wednesday.

“As the winds at the surface are going to shift a bit, winds coming out of the southwest today and increasing in strength by tonight, we should actually see a warming trend from that through parts of Southern Alberta.”

Environment Canada’s current forecast for Lethbridge on Saturday, January 1 includes a high of zero and plus three for Sunday.

All good things, however, must come to an end.

“By the time we get to Sunday night, temperatures start to fall and they don’t recuperate much on Monday – they fall further and don’t recuperate on Tuesday. It looks like we have these conditions for several more days. That warm-up over the weekend doesn’t stick around and then you’re back into the very cold temperatures very quickly and those don’t really warm up until the second week in January.”

The weather forecaster has several tips to help people stay safe and warm during the harsh winter months. You can read more here.