Route route links
- Local news
Environment Canada has issued a cold weather advisory for the Calgary area as wind chill values of -40 are expected to continue throughout the week.
Posted on December 19, 2022 • Last updated 46 minutes ago • Read for 4 minutes
8 comments Alberta Electricity System Operator data showed power consumption on Alberta’s power grid was 12,026 megawatts as of 5 p.m. Monday, a new hourly load record high, one that would likely break later that afternoon. Azin Ghaaffari/Postmedia
Content of the article
Alberta has set a new record for energy use as the province enters a deep freeze.
Advertisement 2
This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
Bitterly cold and wintry conditions across the country are also causing flight delays and cancellations at Calgary International Airport as hundreds of thousands of people travel through Calgary for the holidays this week.
Sign up for daily headline news from the Calgary Herald, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
By clicking the sign up button, you agree to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails or any newsletter. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don’t see it, check your junk folder.
The next issue of the Calgary Herald Headline News will be in your inbox soon.
We encountered a problem registering you. Please try again
Content of the article
Environment and Climate Change Canada issued an extreme cold warning for the Calgary area as temperatures were expected to drop to -30C overnight Monday and Tuesday, with highs in the mid-minus 20s through Friday. With the wind, it felt like -42.
Data from Alberta’s electricity system operator showed power consumption on Alberta’s power grid was 12,026 megawatts as of 5 p.m. Monday, a figure that economics professor University of Calgary Blake Shaffer tweeted it was the new record for maximum hourly load, a record that will probably be broken later the same. evening.
Advertisement 3
This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
According to the Calgary Airport Authority, the combination of extreme cold in Calgary and snowy conditions at several other Canadian airports is causing delays at YYC.
Calgary Airport expects nearly 50,000 travelers through its terminal each day of the holiday season.
In addition to weather-related delays, the airport authority said some fliers may be experiencing delays due to passenger volume, staff, maintenance or connections from other airports.
Lise Stransky takes a break to look out over a chilly Calgary after walking her son to school in Sunnyside on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. Extreme cold temperatures are forecast for most of the week in the city. Gavin Young/Postmedia
“The Calgary Airport Authority asks travelers to plan ahead and prepare for potential delays before flying to save time and make their experience more enjoyable,” the authority said in a statement.
“We are monitoring the situation and continue to work with all our partners, from airlines, airports and security checkpoints to border agents and government officials, so that together we can provide a smooth and efficient experience for travelers.”
Advertisement 4
This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
Calgary Airport’s flight schedule showed about a dozen cancellations and more than 30 delays Monday.
Air Canada said winter weather at other airport hubs, including Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, has been causing significant delays in Calgary due to the number of connecting flights through those airports.
“Due to the weather, these airports had to impose ground departure restrictions, which reduces the number of flights allowed to take off and this affects the schedules of individual airlines,” the airline said in a statement.
-
RCMP are advising drivers to avoid Highway 2 due to poor conditions
-
The City Council reminds residents to clear the sidewalks
As Air Canada staff in Calgary battle the frigid pot on the ramp, they’ve hired staff to help process delayed bags and get them quickly to their final destinations. The airline expects around two million passengers during the holidays across its network.
Advertisement 5
This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
WestJet said in a statement that it apologizes to travelers who have been affected by cancellations due to the weather.
“Extreme cold warnings affecting Alberta and snow and weather events forecast for regions of BC including Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan region continue to prove challenging as we work to stabilize our operations and ensure the safety of our crews,” WestJet said.
Bundle up and keep moving: Alfie and Bobby followed these general rules for braving the cold while playing at an East Village dog park on Monday, December 19, 2022. Extreme cold temperatures are forecast for most of the week in town. Gavin Young/Postmedia
Extremely cold wind chills will continue throughout the week, especially overnight and into the early morning hours.
While a warming trend is expected over the weekend, Environment Canada said the extreme cold can be a danger to everyone.
Environment Canada meteorologist Terri Lang said the most important thing is for people to limit their time outdoors.
Advertisement 6
This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
“We’re getting into dangerous conditions where freezing can happen very, very quickly, within five minutes or so,” Lang said.
People should make sure they are properly dressed when outdoors and cover exposed skin, such as hands, head, ears and as much of the face as possible.
Advertisement 7
This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
Environment Canada is also urging people to watch for cold-related symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, and numbness and discoloration of the fingers and toes.
As of Monday, extreme cold warnings extended to many regions of western and southern Alberta, according to Environment Canada’s website.
Daily temperature records were broken in several places in the province.
Banff set a new record on Dec. 19 at -36.0C, beating the old record of -35.6C in 1921, according to Lang. Bow Valley set a record low of -40.5C, beating the previous record of -36.3C in 2008.
Cochrane recorded a low of -32.9C, which was colder than its previous record of -32.7C in 1990. Hendrickson Creek reached -44.1C, down from -41.1C in 2008
Advertisement 8
This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
A couple more daily records were set, Lang explained, but the coldest temperatures are still expected later this week on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Extreme cold forced the closure of Zoolights Sunday evening, with the cancellation continuing through at least Tuesday, the Calgary Zoo said in a social media post Monday morning.
“We expect Zoolights to resume on December 21 (weather permitting),” the zoo said.
⚠️ ZOOLIGHTS, presented by Olympia Trust Company, has been canceled tonight (December 19) and tomorrow night (December 20) due to extreme cold.
ZOOLIGHTS will resume on December 21st (weather permitting). Thanks for understanding. Learn more: pic.twitter.com/YIgB9frPXo
— Calgary Zoo (@calgaryzoo) December 19, 2022
Advertisement 9
This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
WinSport Canada Olympic Park also closed Monday to Wednesday to skiers and snowboarders due to the extreme cold and closed its tubing park on Sunday, after opening for the season on Saturday.
The return of freezing temperatures in and around Calgary has already caused a number of problems for drivers.
On Saturday, the RCMP issued an advisory urging drivers to avoid the stretch of road between Red Deer and Airdrie. An updated statement Sunday morning said snowplows and other snow removal crews are working to keep the road clear, but travel is still not recommended unless absolutely necessary.
— With files from Olivia Condon and Jason Herring
sbabych@postmedia.com
Share this article on your social network
Related Stories
-
RCMP are advising drivers to avoid Highway 2 due to poor conditions
RCMP said until roads are cleared and/or temperatures rise, poor driving conditions along Highway 2 north of Calgary are likely to persist.
-
Accused of blocking Coutts frustrated by trial delays, they want explanations about the charges
‘It hangs over our heads. I have a family,” said Fort Macleod Councilman Marco Van Huigenbos
-
Advertisement 2
This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.
-
Rising costs squeeze food budgets for hungry families and those who help feed them
“When you can go out and pick your own food, it just makes you feel human.”
-
Ukrainian teenagers playing hockey with the Calgary Royals U18 AAA after the war pushed them to Canada
Mark and Danyil have lifelong dreams of playing hockey in the NHL, and their families were encouraged to choose Canada when war pushed them…