Another 34 cold temperature records set in Alberta

A total of 10 communities experienced temperatures below -40, including Banff, Beaverlodge, Bow Valley Provincial Park, Elk Island National Park, Hendrickson Creek, Jasper, Peace River, Rocky Mountain House, Sundre, and Waterton Lakes National Park.

Daily minimum temperature records were set in the following communities on December 20, 2022:

Banff Area
- New record of -41.5
- Old record of -40.6 set in 1921
- Records in this area have been kept since 1887
Beaverlodge Area
- New record of -39.3
- Old record of -39.0 set in 1990
- Records in this area have been kept since 1912
Bow Island Area
- New record of -34.4
- Old record of -34.2 set in 2008
- Records in this area have been kept since 1961
Bow Valley (Provincial Park) Area
- New record of -42.8
- Old record of -34.4 set in 1998
- Records in this area have been kept since 1928
Breton Area
- New record of -39.6
- Old record of -37.0 set in 1990
- Records in this area have been kept since 1939
Cardston Area
- New record of -35.8
- Old record of -35.1 set in 2008
- Records in this area have been kept since 1918
Drumheller Area
- New record of -39.6
- Old record of -36.0 set in 1989
- Records in this area have been kept since 1923
Elk Island (National Park) Area
- New record of -40.4
- Old record of -37.0 set in 1989
- Records in this area have been kept since 1966
Hendrickson Creek Area
- New record of -48.2
- Old record of -39.3 set in 2008
- Records in this area have been kept since 1995
High River Area
- New record of -35.1
- Old record of -33.9 set in 1921
- Records in this area have been kept since 1913
Highvale Area
- New record of -36.6
- Old record of -31.4 set in 2008
- Records in this area have been kept since 1977
Jasper Area
- New record of -43.2
- Old record of -39.5 set in 1990
- Records in this area have been kept since 1916
Lacombe Area
- New record of -38.6
- Old record of -38.5 set in 1990
- Records in this area have been kept since 1907
Milk River Area
- New record of -33.1
- Old record of -32.8 set in 2008
- Records in this area have been kept since 1994
Onefour Area
- New record of -34.3
- Old record of -33.3 set in 1951
- Records in this area have been kept since 1928
Peace River Area
- New record of -42.2
- Old record of -40.0 set in 1970
- Records in this area have been kept since 1907
Red Deer Area
- New record of -38.7
- Old record of -36.8 set in 1990
- Records in this area have been kept since 1904
Rocky Mountain House Area
- New record of -41.8
- Old record of -41.1 set in 1921
- Records in this area have been kept since 1915
Stavely Area
- New record of -34.2
- Old record of -33.3 set in 1964
- Records in this area have been kept since 1914
Sundre Area
- New record of -43.0
- Old record of -39.0 set in 2008
- Records in this area have been kept since 1993
Three Hills Area
- New record of -37.1
- Old record of -36.1 set in 1921
- Records in this area have been kept since 1921

Daily minimum temperature records were set in the following communities on the morning of Wednesday, December 21, 2022:

Elk Island (National Park) Area
- Preliminary new record of -40.1
- Old record of -40.0 set in 1989
- Records in this area have been kept since 1966
Bow Island Area
- Preliminary new record of -38.3
- Old record of -34.0 set in 2008
- Records in this area have been kept since 1961
Pincher Creek Area
- Preliminary new record of -39.2
- Old record of -37.1 set in 1990
- Records in this area have been kept since 1893
Beaverlodge Area
- Preliminary new record of -41.2
- Old record of -38.0 set in 1989
- Records in this area have been kept since 1912
Peace River Area
- Preliminary new record of -44.9
- Old record of -37.8 set in 1933
- Records in this area have been kept since 1907
Waterton Park Area
- Preliminary new record of -42.4
- Old record of -40.0 set in 1990
- Records in this area have been kept since 1976
Highvale Area
- Preliminary new record of -35.4
- Old record of -32.3 set in 2008
- Records in this area have been kept since 1977
Jasper Area
- Preliminary new record of -41.1
- Old record of -39.0 set in 2008
- Records in this area have been kept since 1916
Kananaskis (Nakiska Ridgetop) Area
- Preliminary new record of -35.2
- Old record of -34.3 set in 1996
- Records in this area have been kept since 1994
Breton Area
- Preliminary new record of -38.1
- Old record of -36.0 set in 1990
- Records in this area have been kept since 1939
Hendrickson Creek Area
- Preliminary new record of -46.5
- Old record of -40.3 set in 2008
- Records in this area have been kept since 1995
High River Area
- Preliminary new record of -37.5
- Old record of -34.0 set in 1990
- Records in this area have been kept since 1913
Bow Valley (Provincial Park) Area
- Preliminary new record of -39.7
- Old record of -36.0 set in 1989
- Records in this area have been kept since 1928

The entire province remains under an extreme cold warning from Environment Canada.

The warning for the Lethbridge-Taber-Milk River area states that wind chill values of -40 or below will continue this week with a warming trend expected by the weekend. Some areas can expect wind chill values of -50.

Environment Canada says extreme cold puts everyone at risk.

“Risks are greater for young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, people working or exercising outdoors, and those without proper shelter. Watch for cold related symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes,” says Environment Canada.

The agency adds that, if it is too cold for you to stay outside, it is too cold for your pets to stay outside.

Public weather alerts for Alberta can be found on the Environment Canada website.

Extreme cold emergency supports in Lethbridge are listed in the image below:

Services provided in Lethbridge under the Extreme Temperature Response Plan. (Image: City of Lethbridge)

by David Opinko

Another 34 cold temperature records set in Alberta

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