Calgary weather: Cold weather persists before a 30-degree increase from Friday night to Monday afternoon

Friday's freezing cold gives way to warmer temperatures Saturday.

A low-riding jet is producing unusually low temperatures across the west with a number of yellow-level extreme cold warnings being issued from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, B.C., The Northwest Territories, and the Yukon.

In their advisory for east-central Alberta ECCC explained both “very cold temperatures and wind chill values of -40” were expected to continue Friday morning, and, “The cold will moderate in some areas this afternoon, but return tonight. Cold and wind chill values near minus 40 will end by Saturday afternoon.”

Yellow-level snowfall warnings were also issued for the southeast corner of the Alberta including Medicine Hat. The national weather agency explained,

“The heaviest snow is expected tonight, with total snowfall amounts near 15 cm. The highest accumulations are likely south of Highway 1 near the Cypress Hills. Snow will taper off on Saturday morning.”

Yellow-level snowfall warnings were also issued for portions of southwestern Saskatchewan and B.C. – including along the TransCanada Highway from Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass, and yellow-level winter storm warnings were issued for the central B.C. coast.

Calgary is anticipating a high of -17 C with wind chill values near -30 on Friday. This area will probably see between four to six centimetres of snow – however some communities could record more.

A ridge of high pressure situated in the Pacific basin just off the southern B.C. coastline will start to move east, displacing the colder air on Saturday. Daytime highs will jump from -17 C on Friday to 10 C on Monday – which will lead to rapid melting around Calgary.

This will cause stress to certain infrastructure like water mains, and lead to icing on surfaces like roads, sidewalks, and parking lots once another wave of arctic air settles across the country by the middle of next week.

Daytime temperatures are expected to range from -11 C to -19 C from Wednesday to at least Sunday of next weekend.