A look at Central Avenue on the morning of Jan 26. (Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Craddock

UP AND DOWN

Get ready for a sudden shift in temperatures in Prince Albert

Jan 26, 2023 | 11:07 AM

Brace yourself for a sudden shift in the winter weather as we go from the positives to the negatives in less than 24 hours.

Following an overnight dump of snow with rain and high winds, Environment Canada is forecasting a high of 4 degrees for Prince Albert by Thursday afternoon.

However, that will be very short-lived, as the low will plummet to -13 C and the temperatures will stay in the frigid area.

“We have a polar front that’s coming down, there’s already cold air sitting in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut and northern Manitoba,” said meteorologist Janelle Gergely. “The system that’s moving through now that’s brought you the snow and the rain is that polar front.”

Gergely said normal temperatures for this time of year are highs around -12 and overnight lows of -24. Prince Albert though has experienced a milder-than-normal January so the change to the polar weather will be a big one.

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“Below normal for sure through the first week of February and possibly into the second week of February as well,” said Gergely.

So what will this quick change in temperatures mean for roads, highways, and sidewalks?

“It’s gonna lead to some messy road conditions especially with the above-zero temperatures today,” said Gergely. “Anything that’s on the roads might be a little mushy and then with that extreme drop to below zero, it’s going to freeze all that in place. There’s going to be some rough terrain on the roads for a while.”

While temperatures will return to near the -30 mark without windchills soon, Gergely does not anticipate any record-breaking cold in the next couple of weeks. She said the record for this time of year is around the -50 mark.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock