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Food And Drinks

Edmonton climate: Excessive chilly warning in impact, warming on horizon

By Mike D. Wagner

  1. Local News

Mainly sunny. Ice fog patches dissipating late this morning. Wind up to 15 km/h. High -26 C. Wind chill -40 this morning and -31 this afternoon. Frostbite in minutes

It was so cold that these two inflatable frosty snowmen in southwest Edmonton were in a deflated mood but still managed to retain their smiles, even though temperatures dipped to -35C degrees with wind chill values around -45C degrees on December 21, 2022, the first official day of winter. It was so cold that these two inflatable frosty snowmen in southwest Edmonton were in a deflated mood but still managed to retain their smiles, even though temperatures dipped to -35C degrees with wind chill values around -45C degrees on December 21, 2022, the first official day of winter. Photo by Larry Wong /Postmedia

A look at Wednesday’s Edmonton weather by Environment Canada.

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Currently, it’s -34 C at the Edmonton Blatchford weather station with calm winds.

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As my sister always says before she ventures out on a big run, “you’ve gotta embrace the suck.” Well, there are a few Canadians who are doing just that. Making the best of this brutal cold snap and finding joy in the little things. Like a Timmy’s hot chocolate, that likely turns luke warm the moment they poke it out the drive-thru window.

Sonja Purcell didn’t let a little cold weather bother her as she sipped on a cup of hot chocolate while watching the sun set on Victoria Promenade in downtown Edmonton on December 21, 2022, when temperatures dipped to -35C degrees with a wind chill of -45C degrees on the first official day of winter. An extreme cold warning has been issued for the Edmonton region but a warming trend is on the way. Temperatures are expected to climb to a balmy -13 C degrees by Christmas day. Sonja Purcell didn’t let a little cold weather bother her as she sipped on a cup of hot chocolate while watching the sun set on Victoria Promenade in downtown Edmonton on December 21, 2022, when temperatures dipped to -35C degrees with a wind chill of -45C degrees on the first official day of winter. An extreme cold warning has been issued for the Edmonton region but a warming trend is on the way. Temperatures are expected to climb to a balmy -13 C degrees by Christmas day. Photo by Larry Wong /Postmedia

Temperatures will continue to be cold for the next couple of days, but not quite as cold. The daytime high for today is set to reach a comfortable -26 C with a wind chill of -31. That is more than 10 degrees warmer than it was yesterday!

I’m choosing to stay positive about the whole situation. We will get through this and we will survive. If I can walk the dog in this kind of weather, then I’m a strong Canadian too.

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Yes, I’m embracing the suck for a couple more days and then it will be much nicer and way more manageable and it will make -13 C feel almost warm.

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  1. Domestic holiday travellers at Edmonton International Airport got caught in the early morning rush on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022 . Greg Southam-Postmedia

    Edmonton airport affected by extreme weather-caused backups across country

  2. A chilly city scape downtown is seen at temperatures hovered around -20 degrees Celcius from Forest Heights Park in Edmonton, on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022.

    Second grid alert in two days issued as extreme cold snap leads to record energy use in Alberta

  3. The downtown Edmonton city skyline on Tuesday December 6, 2022. Edmonton, Alberta was one of the coldest places on Earth on Tuesday December 6, 2022 with a temperature of -31C degrees and a wind chill value of -40C degrees. The coldest place on the planet on this day was Lindburg Landing, Northwest Territories with a temperature of -41C degrees, followed by Manning, Alberta with a temperature of -39C and a wind chill of -51C degrees.

    Frigid temperatures blanket Edmonton, promoting extreme cold warning

Cold streets

The city of Edmonton has activated its extreme weather response to help keep vulnerable Edmontonians safe during the cold weather expected to continue throughout the week. The response took effect on Tuesday, Nov 29 at 8 a.m., and will end on Monday, Dec. 26 at 8 a.m. If weather conditions remain extremely cold beyond this timeframe, the response will be extended.

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The city activates the response when there is a temperature of -20 C with a wind chill for at least three consecutive nights and shelter utilizations rates reach more than 90 per cent.

Edmonton Transit Services will provide dedicated overnight transportations on three routs between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., to transport people to shelters with capacity. Routes and service levels may be adjusted based on demand and resources.

The Al Rashid Mosque will provide 75 overnight shelter spaces. The Community Space at the Bissell Centre will run seven days a week, 10 hours a day. The space functions as a hub where people can access support, including laundry, meals, Indigenous Culteral support, mental health and housing support.

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The city supports the Winter Warming Bus operated but Boyle Street Community Services, which provideds food, winter clothing, blankets and transportation to warming centres and shelters.

The Encampment Response Team will conduct wellness checks and only addresses high-risk encampments to make sure the safety of people experiencing homelessness.

All Edmonton Public Library locations and recreations facilities are open to the public during regular operating hours for warming purposes.

The city released a list of actions Edmontonians can take to help those in needs including learning to recognize the signs of hypothermia, which include, uncontrollable shivering, drowsiness or exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, or slurred speech; and a person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing.

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Residents are asked to call 911 for someone in serious distress or in cases of emergencies or to call 211, and press 3 for 24 hour crisis Diversion non-emergency support for shelter, intoxication and mental health.

Safeguarding pets

The city is also reminding residents to be aware of your pets tolerance to the cold.

“During extreme cold snaps, consider keeping pets indoors or shortening walks,” the city said in a Wednesday news release.

While pets are outside watch for signs such as lifting their feet high off the ground or licking at their feet, slowing down or stopping often, whining, anxiety, shivering, shaking tucking feet under their body or curling up in a tight ball with their tail over them.

While they say frostbite can be hard to detect in animals, pets are vulnerable, particularly the ears, paws, nose and tip of the tail.

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“Frostbitten areas initially turn a reddish colour then grey or bluish. If you suspect your pet has frostbite, take them to their veterinarian for further care.”

If you see an animal in distress due to cold temperatures you can call 311 to make a report.

Winter fire safety

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services is also encouraging residents to keep fire safety top of mind.

Edmontonians are asked to heat their home safely and give heating equipment sufficient space. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet (1 metre) away from space heaters, furnaces, fireplaces, and wood stoves.

All fuel-buring equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year.

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EFRS adds that you should never use your oven to heat your home.

In the case that your pipes freeze you should never use a blowtorch or other open flame to attempt to thaw as the pipe could conduct the heat and ignite the wall structure.

They advise you to use hot water or a UL-labeled device such as a hand held dryer for thawing.

In the case of a burst pipe call the  Epcor’s Emergency Line at 780-412-4500 or if flooding or an emergency occurs call 911.

Phase 1 parking ban in effect

The City has put the phase 1 parking ban into effect while crews clear arterial roads, collector roads, bus routes and roads within business improvement areas.

Parking is allowed on roads as soon as they have been cleared, as long as parking is permitted.

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City crews have switched to using a gravel chip mix for roadway traction material because when temperatures dip this low sand is no longer effective against icy conditions.

The ban is expected to last three to five days.

Today’s forecast

Today: Mainly sunny. Ice fog patches dissipating late this morning. Wind up to 15 km/h. High -26 C. Wind chill -40 this morning and -31 this afternoon. Frostbite in minutes.

Tonight: Clear. Wind up to 15 km/h. Low -29 C. Wind chill -35 this evening and -40 overnight. Frostbite in minutes.

Tomorrow: Increasing cloudiness in the morning. Wind becoming southeast 20 km/h late in the morning. High -20 C. Wind chill -39 in the morning and -30 in the afternoon. Risk of frostbite.

Sunrise: 8:49 a.m.

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Sunset: 4:17 p.m.

Normals: 

Max: -6 C

Min: -15 C

Yesterday

Max: -29.6 C

Min: -34.1 C

Precipitation: 0.2 mm

On This Day (1996-2020)

Highest temperature: 6.8 C in 1999

Lowest temperature: -30.3 C in 1996

📸 Eye On Edmonton

This space is dedicated to some of the great and interesting photos taken by Postmedia photographers while they’re out and about town.

A pedestrian walks through Churchill Square as temperatures dipped to -33C degrees on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, in Edmonton. A pedestrian walks through Churchill Square as temperatures dipped to -33C degrees on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia Can Man Dan (Dan Johnstone) is back and embarking on a 3-night campout at the Southbrook Sobeys in support of Edmonton’s Food Bank. The need for community support of Edmonton’s Food Bank is critical as the organization sees over 30,000 people access our hamper programs every month. Edmonton’s Food Bank has an ambitious goal of raising 3.5 million dollars and 300,000 kilograms of food during the Festive Campaign on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, in Edmonton. Can Man Dan (Dan Johnstone) is back and embarking on a 3-night campout at the Southbrook Sobeys in support of Edmonton’s Food Bank. The need for community support of Edmonton’s Food Bank is critical as the organization sees over 30,000 people access our hamper programs every month. Edmonton’s Food Bank has an ambitious goal of raising 3.5 million dollars and 300,000 kilograms of food during the Festive Campaign on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia It was so cold that these two inflatable frosty snowmen in southwest Edmonton were in a deflated mood but still managed to retain their smiles, even though temperatures dipped to -35C degrees with wind chill values around -45C degrees on December 21, 2022, the first official day of winter. It was so cold that these two inflatable frosty snowmen in southwest Edmonton were in a deflated mood but still managed to retain their smiles, even though temperatures dipped to -35C degrees with wind chill values around -45C degrees on December 21, 2022, the first official day of winter. Photo by Larry Wong /Postmedia

Scroll through our archived Eye On Edmonton photo galleries.

Follow Postmedia photographers on Twitter.

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Mike D. Wagner 1140 posts 0 comments

Love to write so I write about Edmonton my beloved City!!! Studied at University of Alberta, I love this place. Ask me anything!

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