By Thia James

Cold temps to last up to 8 days, challenge outdoor workers

Nov 26, 2014 | 12:41 PM

Outdoor workers in Prince Albert were bundling up and braving the cold on Wednesday – and according to forecasts, they may have to continue to do that for a few more days.

CKBI meteorologist Henri Dagenais said it looks like temperatures will begin to warm up after eight days. He said on Thursday, with the wind chill, it could get as cold as -33 degrees C.

It’s colder than normal for this time of the year.

“The reason is the Arctic high decided to come over Saskatchewan instead of staying in the Arctic,” Dagenais said.

It’s a high-pressure system that carries a lot of cold air, and the cold air is called continental Arctic. Continental Arctic air has a maximum of -15 to -20 degrees C, and a minimum of around -30 degrees C.

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And for those who work in the cold weather, it poses some challenges.

Phil, and parking meter inspector with Prince Albert’s Bylaw department, said the cold slows him down. The city has 900 parking meters, and in a day, enforcement officers write about 60 to 80 tickets.

“We cover a lot of ground,” he said with a laugh on Wednesday.

To prepare for the colder weather, the enforcement officers wear layers of clothing.

Rick, another parking meter inspector, said it’s his hands that really get cold, he added.

They do have a strategy when it gets to be extremely cold:  at -35 degrees C, they tend to patrol parking lots for handicap parking and fire lane violators.

“We’ll make our loop, then we’ll come downtown, and then we’ll park the car, walk a block and come back, warm up, and continue the whole day,” he said.

It’s not just the subzero temperatures that they’ll have to deal with.

Dagenais said there will be snow flurries in the Prince Albert area over the next 72 hours. The flurries are expected to start at midnight, and he said there won’t be a lot of accumulation on the ground.

-With files from James Bowler

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames