Temperatures have eased, but the severe cold warning was still in place for Red Deer and central Alberta for Friday, according to Environment Canada.
Red Deer woke up to -23 C. The wind chill will reach -36 C this morning and -31 C in the afternoon. The risk of frostbite continues.
Temperature will climb to -22 C today, with a 60 per cent chance of flurries.
School buses are cancelled and schools are closed at Wolf Creek Public Schools today due to the extreme cold. Schools have reopened at Chinook’s Edge School Division and buses are running today.
Today, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools cancelled bus service for Blackfalds, Sylvan Lake, Innisfail (rural high school) and Rocky Mountain House, but schools are open. Students should check the Bus Status App as some Red Deer rural buses are also not running.
Environment Canada said skies are expected to clear Saturday morning causing temperatures to plummet once again. The prolonged cold snap is forecast to end in Alberta by Monday.
In the meantime, Albertans should watch out for cold-related symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes.
If it’s too cold for people to stay outside, it’s too cold for pets to stay outside too.
Extreme cold warnings are issued when very cold temperatures, or wind chill, creates an elevated risk to health such as frost bite and hypothermia.