Cold temperatures in the forecast for opening weekend of Winterlude

An ice carver works on Sparks Street Thursday afternoon ahead of the opening weekend of Winterlude. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa)

Cold temperatures are in the forecast for the opening weekend of Winterlude, with overnight lows dropping to -20 C.

Winterlude kicks off on Friday, with events scheduled all weekend on Sparks Street and in the ByWard Market, and at the Snowflake Kingdom in Gatineau’s Jacques-Cartier Park. The Rideau Canal Skateway is also open for skaters all weekend.

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Environment Canada’s forecast calls for a mainly cloudy day with a 30 per cent chance of morning flurries. High -1 C.

Clear tonight. Low -19 C with the wind chill making it feel like -27.

Saturday will be sunny. High -13 C.

The forecast calls for a low of -20 C Saturday night.

Sunday will be cloudy with a high of -8 C.

Monday will be cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of flurries or showers. High 1 C.

Temperatures will drop back to a low of -16 C on Monday night and -10 C on Tuesday.

The normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of -6 C and a low of -15 C.