Josh Classen's forecast: 2 days at the bottom of the cold spell
We're nearing the bottom of the cold spell that started earlier this week.
Temperatures slipped into the -20s overnight and this morning in the Edmonton area and we may not get above -20 C at all today.
I have a high of -20 C in my forecast, but there's a chance we maybe get to -19 C for an hour.
The "good" news? We'll get some clearing through the day and the wind should stay light (in the 2 to 5 km/h range).
With temperatures in the -20s, there's a moderate risk of frostnip and frostbite for anyone spending extended periods of time outside.
Once we get into the -30s (whether that's the actual temperature or the wind chill), then frostbite can occur in as little as 10 to 30 minutes.
AND...that's what we're dealing with across much of northern and western Alberta this morning.
Edson and Peace River have both hit wind chills of -40 C. High Level's in that range as well.
Fort McMurray and even as far south as Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House are in the mid -30s with wind chill this morning.
Wind speeds in the Edmonton area are only about 5 km/h, so there's not much of a wind chill. But, because temperatures are so cold, it doesn't take much to push the wind chill near -30.
We'll continue to see wind near 5 km/h or lighter through the day. But, it IS expected to pick up tomorrow.
We're also going to see actual temperatures drop close to -30 C in the city Friday morning.
ECCC will likely expand the "Extreme Cold Warning" that currently only covers nothwestern and extreme northern Alberta.
That'll probably widen to include much of central Alberta for Friday morning.
Wind chills in Edmonton will probably be in the mid -30s Friday morning and we'll only get to around -21 C Friday afternoon.
But...with 10-15 km/h wind, it's going to feel more like the -25 to -30 range for most of the afternoon.
Saturday morning won't be any better. We'll be around -27 C, with wind chill in the mid -30s.
BUT...we start to get milder Saturday afternoon as the arctic air shifts a bit further east.
Temperatures should climb to around -13 C by late Saturday afternoon and we'll hold steady or warm slightly overnight and into Sunday morning.
By Sunday afternoon, we should be in single digits (on the minus side).
It'll be short-lived though. The arctic airmass spins back in for Monday/Tueday.
It's not until Wednesday/Thursday of next week that we likely FINALLY get out of the coldest air and get a lengthier stretch of "milder" temperatures.
We'll still likely remain below average through to the end of next week. But, at least the coldest air (the -20ish highs and near -30 lows) will be behind us.
Here's the forecast for Edmonton and area:
Today - Mostly cloudy this morning. Clearing this afternoon.
Light wind.
High: -20
Tonight - A few clouds. Light wind.
9pm: -24
Friday - Sunny with a few clouds. Wind: 10-15 km/h
Morning Low: -28 ***wind chill near -34
Afternoon High: -21 ***wind chill near -25
Saturday - Mix of sun & cloud. Breezy.
Morning Low: -27
Afternoon High: -13
Sunday - Mix of sun & cloud. Breezy.
Morning Low: -10
Afternoon High: -8
Monday - Mostly cloudy. 30% chance of flurries.
Morning Low: -16
Afternoon High: -13
Tuesday - Partly cloudy.
Morning Low: -23
Afternoon High: -19
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.