Wind chill values near -50 prompt cold warnings in Alberta

Light scattered flurries and plunging temperatures. Jodi Hughes has a look at the five-day forecast from the Sky Watch Weather Centre.

Cold air has settled over much of the country - including Alberta.

Daytime highs in Calgary will sit around -14 C for Thursday and Friday with lows near -20 C.

Ambient temperatures for portions of northern and east-central Alberta are expected to peak in the -20s Thursday, with wind chill values as cold as -50 in some communities.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued yellow warnings for cold in northeastern and east-central Alberta and yellow and orange cold warnings across Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the Northwest Territories.

In their advisory for areas east of the QEII, ECCC explained, “Wind chill values between minus 40 and minus 45 continue. Temperatures and wind chills will moderate this afternoon but drop to the minus 45 to minus 50 range again tonight.”

Light and scattered snow started falling across the Calgary area Thursday morning and more snow is expected across central Alberta and southern Alberta on Friday and Saturday.

A persistent freeze-thaw cycle has been in place around southern Alberta over the past few days with above-average daytime highs.

As of Thursday morning there was very little measurable snow remaining around Calgary – except for some snow and ice in shady areas, back alleys and parking lots.

The colder temperatures over the next five days will put a halt to that melting – however a warmer trend will return early next week.