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Weather fluctuations normal during winter in Red Deer

‘It’s not over yet, no matter what some little rodent said’
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Earlier this week an extreme cold warning alert was issued, but Friday’s forecast is for a high of 5 C. (File photo by Black Press news services)

Winter weather hiccups that make Red Deerians shed a layer, than pile clothes back on, are quite normal for this time of year, says Environment and Climate Change Canada.

“Variable weather, especially in central Alberta, is not that unusual,” said Natalie Hasell, warning preparedness meteorologist, on Thursday.

Earlier this week an extreme cold warning alert was issued when a -40 C windchill made frostbite and hypothermia a real danger.

Meanwhile a high of -14 C was expected Thursday afternoon, according to the Environment Canada website.

But by Friday, the forecasted high will be 5 C, with above zero expected for about a week, and the high for next Wednesday could reach 9 C.

Hasell said variability is directly related to the movement of low and high pressure centres. Every year is a bit different, but there is always some oscillation that can lead to a dramatic shift in the weather.

In the last few months temperatures have swung widely. December was generally quite cold with a few warmer days. The cold continued into the first week of January, then the cold was interrupted by warm spells.

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She said despite the extreme temperature fluctuations, no records for overnight lows or daily highs were broken in December, January, nor February so far. The coming days will bring mild temperatures, but not record breaking. Day time record highs at this time of year range from 8 to 15 C.

But she said people should watch out for icy road conditions during the upcoming freeze/thaw cycle, especially as the sun sets and just after, when temperatures fall below zero.

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Hasell said the average high for the beginning of February is -4 C. By March the average high is above zero, but it can be quite snowy for areas further away from the foothills, so Red Deerians should be prepared for more winter weather.

“It’s not over yet, no matter what some little rodent said Wednesday. Winter does not end that quickly in the prairies. You’ve got a bit of a February thaw at the moment, but I wouldn’t be surprised if things got back to near normal which is below freezing soon after the next seven days.”



szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

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