(Teena Monteleone/paNOW Staff)

By Joanie Olson

Warm Winds Blowing In

From extreme cold warnings to warm air: get set for a weekend weather reprieve

Feb 17, 2021 | 1:38 PM

Remember those pre-COVID days of flying off to a warmer destination to escape the brutal cold? Well, it looks like you won’t even need to buy a plane ticket to enjoy that sensation of cold to warm in the coming days.

A break in the weather is on its way with a massive swing in temperatures compared to just a week ago when we were in the -50 Celsius range.

Environment Canada forecasts by next week we should see temperatures swing by as much as 53 C.

Last Thursday, Feb. 11 the temperature with the wind chill was -51 C and yet by next Monday Feb. 22 we have the potential to see temperatures as high as 2 C.

According to Natalie Hasell, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change, Canada has been under the influence of a ridge of high pressure characterized by arctic air which is slow moving.

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“Finally we will see that ridge of really cold air high pressure move off and dissipate somewhat and with that we will see a shift in the wind,” Hasell said.

Instead of having winds out of the northwest, the wind will be from the west which tends to bring a warming trend for most of the prairies.

“The first real change we will be seeing on Friday where the daytime high forecast is minus 7 which is single digits not double digits like we have had for a while. That trend continues and we have temperatures about zero in the forecast.”

Hasell adds road conditions may be different between day and nighttime driving moving into the weekend and something to keep in mind.

“It likely will be windy which is how we warm things up here and scour out the cold air so to do that you need winds. It will be warmer but not necessarily comfortable.”

The warmer temperatures are expected to stick around through the weekend and into next week before going back to more seasonal temperatures. Hasell pointed out if there are things you have been putting off because of the cold weather, this weekend and early next week is the time to do it to take advantage of the opportunity.

No records are set to be broken though since the warmest recorded temperature was 8.3 C back in 1958. But the warmer air brings hope spring may be on its the way.

—

Joanie.Olson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow