Photo: Shane Clausing

By Shane Clausing

potential record breaking cold

Grande Prairie could see record-breaking temperatures for Christmas

Dec 22, 2021 | 1:57 PM

Santa Claus might want to bring an extra jacket when he and his reindeer make their way into Grande Prairie and Alberta for Christmas.

Environment Canada Meteorologist Kyle Fougere tells EverythingGP, once the snowfall stops sometime on Thursday, a ridge of cold air will make its way into the Swan City and most of Alberta.

“There is a low-pressure system moving through Alberta today (Dec. 22), so it is bringing snow to the area. Once it (the low-pressure system) moves past, the winds are going to be from the north and it’s going to drag this arctic air in across the entire province of Alberta,” he explained.

That arctic air will have temperatures over the next week reaching highs into the minus 30s and lows around the minus 40s.

“It’s going to be a really cold arctic air mass and it’s going to settle in place,” he said. “Once these air masses get settled in place, it’s really hard to move them out, so it’s expected to stay for quite a while in the area.”

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

Fougere adds the cold arctic air could mean record-breaking cold Christmas temperatures.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had anything this cold. A typical Christmas day has a high of minus eight and a low of minus 19,” Fougere mentioned.

“We are going to be substantially colder than that. When we look at the high for Christmas Day, the coldest daytime high that we have ever had was set at minus 30, which was set in 1971. Right now, we are forecasting a high of minus 32. That would make it the coldest (Christmas Day) daytime high we have had in 50 years for the Grande Prairie area.”

With many people likely travelling for the holidays, Fougere mentioned it is important to be prepared for the cold temperatures.

“These are very dangerous conditions we’re forecasting. Frostbite can occur in a matter of minutes. We always tell people to cover as much of your body as they can, try to limit the amount of exposed skin you have.”

“A lot of people will be travelling around over the holidays, so try to have an emergency kit in your vehicle with warm blankets, clothes and a candle, just in case something happens while you’re travelling.”

Fougere reminds everyone to pay attention to the weather before they go travelling.