Residents in Lethbridge have been treated to warmer conditions to start off the new year, January 4, 2023. (Photo: J. Goulet - LNN)

By Justin Goulet

January to primarily bring warmer weather to Lethbridge

Jan 4, 2023 | 11:41 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge residents have been treated to warmer weather to start the new year.

Meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Terri Lang, said the above-zero temperatures follow some frigid conditions seen in late December, thanks to Chinook winds.

She did note, however, that residents might notice a bit of a cooler shift on Thursday, January 5, 2023, as the Chinooks subside. The weather agency is forecasting a high of minus 4 degrees Celsius, with the wind chill making it feel like minus 20 in the morning and minus 10 by the afternoon.

Lang told LNN, “After that, it’s looking like the Chinook is going to keep itself going, meaning above average temperatures for this time of year and probably not much in the way of snow or precipitation.”

She said that Lethbridge might see some precipitation early to mid next week, but by the end of the week, “the Chinook is going to kick back in,” meaning residents will be treated to more warm conditions.

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As for the rest of the month, Lang said, “It does look like temperatures are forecast to stay above average towards the end of January.”

She added, “It is forecast, unfortunately, to stay a little bit on the dry side, and we know that that precipitation is kind of needed as we go further into the spring, so hopefully we’ll get some moisture after that. We know the Chinooks do a good job of getting rid of that moisture quickly.”

NORMAL FOR JANUARY

Lang explained that Chinooks can come through the region “at any time during the winter.”

“It just depends on what’s happening with the jet stream and how things in the atmosphere are doing,” she stated, adding that the La Nina pattern off the coast of South America “is slowly breaking down.”

The pattern’s break down can actually make it more difficult for long-range forecasting.

Lang explained, “Often with the La Nina patterns, we know we stayed in the colder air, but this time with it breaking down, the jet stream is getting a little bit more volatile, meaning it’s moving a little bit more and so we can get these episodes of the warmth with the Chinooks, but we can also still, well into February, get those really cold temperatures.”

She said residents should keep their winter gear out and be prepared that spring won’t hit the region until March or April.

“We know that February can often bring those big cold outbreaks down from the Arctic and that also blocks the weather patterns from bringing the moisture in, so we know that its not spring time until at least March of April,” Lang remarked.

She encourages Albertans to enjoy the warm winter weather when it’s around, but to be prepared for changing weather conditions, particularly when traveling.

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