Don’t like the weather? Wait five minutes.
It’s a phrase common enough during Alberta’s summer storm season, but this winter, people across the province are also living through near-daily temperature swings that range from bitterly cold to balmy and mild.
An extreme cold warning has been issued by Environment Canada for Monday and Tuesday, but it will be lifted by Wednesday when the mercury warms to near 0C.
This is the second time this month that extreme cold warnings have been issued in the province.
Last week there were two days of -18 to -20 C, followed by a warm-up to single minus figures at the weekend, before temperatures started to drop again on Monday. Come Wednesday, it could be as light as -2 C again, Environment Canada said.
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Extreme cold temperatures hit central, northern Alberta: ‘The Arctic has unleashed its fury’
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Extreme cold temperatures hit central, northern Alberta: ‘The Arctic has unleashed its fury’
Natalie Hasell, a warning preparedness meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said that while these temperature fluctuations are noticeable, they are not out of the ordinary.
“It’s not unusual at all. Yes, temperatures are very different compared to what we consider seasonal – certainly -25 C is really cold and, compared to normal, it is very different. However, minus two is not that far from normal. Your seasonal temperature around this time of year is -4 C for a daytime high,” Hasell said.
“We’ll see a little more volatility as the week goes on: colder-than-normal conditions start to set in on Friday,” she said on Tuesday.
The reason for the swings? Alteration of high and low pressure systems.
Hasell said typically with high-pressure systems — which cause those crisp, clear, blue-sky winter days Alberta is known for — winds move clockwise, pulling icy air from the Arctic.
Conversely, Hasell said low pressure systems usually come with air moving counterclockwise, pulling warmer conditions from the south and west of the continent.
“Unfortunately, the last few days you’ve just been on the edge of air masses — where one day you’re in one air mass, the next day things move and you’re in the other air mass,” Hasell said.
Hasell said meteorologically speaking, it’s not unusual for a frontal zone — that division between air masses — to lie over parts of Alberta this time of year.
“We see that part quite often. Unfortunately, this means that your weather can be hugely different from day to day.”
So how will the rest of December play out?
“We will probably see this colder than normal or at times get closer to normal – but not deep freeze like you are now – for the rest of the month, or at least probably until Christmas.”
“These really big swings in temperatures, probably the biggest one we’re going to see is (Tuesday) compared to (Wednesday).”
I can feel it in my bones: How the cold can affect your health
For some Albertans, the yo-yo weather means being prepared by plugging in their vehicles and planning their transit trips a little more carefully to avoid long waits in the cold.
But for others, the weather can bring a series of aches, pains and, in some cases, debilitating headaches.
Dr. Emergency and preventive medicine physician Louis Francescutti said there is enough scientific evidence accumulated over the years to support the connection.
“You’ve probably heard your grandparents say, ‘I can tell when a storm is coming because my joints are going to hurt,’ and there’s some truth to that.
Conditions such as migraines, headaches, joint pain and even blood pressure can be affected by high and low pressure systems, Francescutti said.
“The studies that were done actually measured people’s symptoms and then they compared them to readings of barometric pressure where the patients lived and they saw that there was a correlation.
“I think there is some truth when people say, ‘Oh, when it gets colder, I can feel it in my bones and my bones are going to ache.’
Francescutti said the medical theory is that changes in barometric pressure cause joints to expand within their closed compartment, which puts pressure on the nerve endings and in turn causes pain.
“It’s going to change the composition of the stress and the fluidity in the joints.”
The veteran Alberta doctor said some ways to mitigate the impact include staying well hydrated, rested, exercising regularly and eating properly.
“If it’s a case of a patient with migraine, make sure you have your medication. And if you need to take the medication prophylactically, then you can do that,” he said.
“Try to stay warmer. So either stay indoors or make sure you’re dressed appropriately,” said Francescutti.
Worries about wind chill and freezing
Environment Canada issues extreme cold alerts when very cold temperatures or wind chills pose an increased risk to health, such as frostbite, hypothermia, heart attacks and cardiac arrest.
“We are issuing these warnings because there is a danger and people could suffer significantly,” Hasell said.
There are different criteria for what constitutes a cold snap in each part of the country, the meteorologist said.
“We issue the extreme cold warnings in Alberta for temperatures or wind chills at -40 and it’s -40 for the entire province — which is different than a number of other places, not just in the country, but in the Prairies.”
Read more:
What warrants an extreme cold warning in Canada? Depends where you are
When the wind chill approaches -40 or lower, Hasell said frostbite can set in on exposed skin in as little as five to 10 minutes.
“Yes, -40 to -47 is considered very high risk – exposed skin can freeze within five to 10 minutes.
“So the amount of time you might be outside waiting for a bus.”
If it’s too cold for you to stay outside, it’s too cold for your pet to stay outside, Environment Canada said.
Risks are greater for young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, people who work or exercise outdoors and those without proper shelter.
Medical conditions such as diabetes, nerve damage or problems with circulation can make people less likely to notice they’re suffering from the cold, Hasell said.
“Some medications can also make you more susceptible to the cold,” she said.
“So talk to your doctor, talk to your pharmacist, get that information and find out if you need to change your plans based on that — more so than maybe a member of the general public who might not be dealing with those medical situations. “
When going outside, people are advised to wear layers and protect exposed skin with gloves, a toque and a scarf. Boots should be waterproof, and it is recommended that people wear two or three layers of pants and shirts.
Also keep moving when you are outside in -30 C.
“If you’re waiting for that bus, don’t just stand there. At least drive around a bit. Keep or help your body generate heat,” Hasell said.
Stay warm, Alberta – spring is many, many months away.
