It's been so cold over the Prairie Provinces that an emergency alert was triggered to alert Alberta citizens that "rotating power outages" will be possible this evening.
In a post, the Alberta Electrical System Operator (AESO) said:
Albertans are asked to immediately reduce their electricity use to minimize the potential for rotating outages across the province. See our media release: Albertans Asked to Conserve Power to Minimize Potential for Rotating Outages. - AESO
Below are the active Extreme Cold Warnings across the Prairies:
Extreme Cold Warnings
3:36 PM MST Saturday 13 January 2024
A long period of extremely cold temperatures and wind chills continues. By Sunday morning, temperatures are expected to range from minus 40 to minus 50 degrees Celsius, with wind chill values near minus 55. Wind chills could even be a bit colder in open and exposed areas. Patches of dense ice fog are forecast to develop this evening, especially near communities, and could last until Sunday afternoon. Temperatures and wind chills are forecast to warm up somewhat, starting on Monday. Extreme cold puts everyone at risk. Risks are greater for young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, people working or exercising outdoors, and those without proper shelter. Watch for cold related symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes. Dress warmly. Dress in layers that you can remove if you get too warm. The outer layer should be wind resistant. Cover up. Frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill. If it’s too cold for you to stay outside, it’s too cold for your pet to stay outside. Watch for colour changes on fingers and toes, pain, numbness, a tingling sensation, or swelling. If present, move indoors and begin warming. Keep moving to maintain your body heat and seek shelter from the wind. Outdoor workers should take regularly scheduled breaks to warm up. Extreme cold warnings are issued when very cold temperatures or wind chill creates an elevated risk to health such as frost bite and hypothermia. Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ABstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports using #ABStorm.
Below is a weather summary issued by ECCC for Alberta:
Weather summary
for Alberta
issued by Environment Canada
at 3:01 p.m. MST Saturday 13 January 2024.
Discussion.
A blast of cold arctic air brought very low overnight temperatures
to portions of Alberta beginning on Thursday.
The following areas have set a daily minimum temperature record on
Friday January 12, 2024 (temperature values given in degrees
Celsius):
Banff Area
New record of -39.8
Old record of -39.4 set in 1916
Records in this area have been kept since 1887
Bow Valley (Provincial Park) Area
New record of -45.3
Old record of -38.9 set in 1950
Records in this area have been kept since 1928
Breton Area
New record of -42.3
Old record of -34.5 set in 1970
Records in this area have been kept since 1939
Camrose Area
New record of -42.5
Old record of -41.0 set in 1998
Records in this area have been kept since 1921
Cardston Area
New record of -39.7
Old record of -34.2 set in 1998
Records in this area have been kept since 1918
Claresholm Area
New record of -39.3
Old record of -33.7 set in 1997
Records in this area have been kept since 1951
Cold Lake Area
New record of -42.1
Old record of -41.1 set in 1971
Records in this area have been kept since 1952
Coronation Area
New record of -42.7
Old record of -40.1 set in 1998
Records in this area have been kept since 1912
Crowsnest Area
New record of -39.9
Old record of -37.9 set in 1998
Records in this area have been kept since 1965
Drumheller Area
New record of -40.5
Old record of -39.4 set in 1974
Records in this area have been kept since 1923
Edmonton (Int'l Aprt) Area
New record of -45.9
Old record of -39.4 set in 1969
Records in this area have been kept since 1959
Edson Area
New record of -42.7
Old record of -38.3 set in 1969
Records in this area have been kept since 1916
Elk Island (National Park) Area
New record of -41.0
Old record of -36.5 set in 1998
Records in this area have been kept since 1966
Esther Area
New record of -40.2
Old record of -37.0 set in 1998
Records in this area have been kept since 1985
Fort Chipewyan Area
New record of -45.9
Old record of -43.5 set in 1994
Records in this area have been kept since 1883
Grande Prairie Area
New record of -42.5
Old record of -41.0 set in 1998
Records in this area have been kept since 1922
Hendrickson Creek Area
New record of -46.1
Old record of -40.0 set in 2005
Records in this area have been kept since 1995
High River Area
New record of -40.2
Old record of -35.0 set in 1997
Records in this area have been kept since 1913
Highvale Area
New record of -42.6
Old record of -37.0 set in 1980
Records in this area have been kept since 1977
Jasper Area
New record of -41.6
Old record of -41.1 set in 1916
Records in this area have been kept since 1916
Lloydminster Area
New record of -39.5
Old record of -37.2 set in 1974
Records in this area have been kept since 1952
Milk River Area
New record of -42.5
Old record of -35.7 set in 1998
Records in this area have been kept since 1994
Nordegg Area
New record of -45.8
Old record of -40.0 set in 1998
Records in this area have been kept since 1915
Onefour Area
New record of -37.7
Old record of -35.0 set in 1997
Records in this area have been kept since 1928
Pincher Creek Area
New record of -40.8
Old record of -37.2 set in 1971
Records in this area have been kept since 1893
Red Earth Creek Area
New record of -42.9
Old record of -40.0 set in 2018
Records in this area have been kept since 1994
Rocky Mountain House Area
New record of -43.1
Old record of -40.0 set in 1935
Records in this area have been kept since 1915
Slave Lake Area
New record of -39.3
Old record of -38.9 set in 1971
Records in this area have been kept since 1922
Stavely Area
New record of -39.1
Old record of -35.6 set in 1916
Records in this area have been kept since 1914
Stettler Area
New record of -41.8
Old record of -37.5 set in 1998
Records in this area have been kept since 1918
Stony Plain Area
New record of -40.3
Old record of -35.6 set in 1971
Records in this area have been kept since 1966
Strathmore Area
New record of -36.8
Old record of -36.7 set in 1916
Records in this area have been kept since 1912
Sundre Area
New record of -44.8
Old record of -40.3 set in 1998
Records in this area have been kept since 1993
Taber Area
New record of -39.3
Old record of -37.0 set in 1997
Records in this area have been kept since 1947
Three Hills Area
New record of -42.3
Old record of -37.2 set in 1950
Records in this area have been kept since 1921
Vegreville Area
New record of -42.9
Old record of -42.8 set in 1971
Records in this area have been kept since 1918
Wainwright Area
New record of -42.0
Old record of -37.8 set in 1998
Records in this area have been kept since 1966
Waterton Park Area
New record of -43.6
Old record of -38.1 set in 1998
Records in this area have been kept since 1976
Note: the temperature records reported here have been derived from a
selection of historical stations in each geographic area that were
active during the period of record.
The following areas set a daily minimum temperature record on
Thursday January 11, 2024 (temperature values given in degrees
Celsius):
Breton Area
New record of -37.6
Old record of -37.3 set in 1968
Records in this area have been kept since 1939
Hendrickson Creek Area
New record of -46.0
Old record of -39.2 set in 1998
Records in this area have been kept since 1995
Red Earth Creek Area
New record of -41.6
Old record of -37.9 set in 1998
Records in this area have been kept since 1994
Note: the temperature records reported here have been derived from a
selection of historical stations in each geographic area that were
active during the period of record.
Please note that this summary may contain preliminary or unofficial
information and does not constitute a complete or final report.
End/PASPC