By Brittney Matejka

Extreme cold warning has ended but risks remain.

Jan 11, 2018 | 3:58 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB. – The extreme cold weather warning from Environment Canada ended Thursday afternoon, however the temperature is not expected to warm up overnight.

Environment Canada predicts the temperature to dropped down to minus 37 degrees Celsius with the wind chill this evening. There will be an increase in cloud cover moving in producing light flurries and fog patches.

Dan Kulak, a meteorologist for Environment Canada, explained the recent drop in temperatures is not unusual for this time of year.

“The Arctic pressure system is typically where the cold weather comes from in Canada,” he explained. “The cold air moves southward into the prairies, we get these cold weather snaps they can last 10 days, even 2 weeks.”

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

Summer pool hours extended and discounts applied as Big Marble Go Centre upgrades start

Apr 18, 2024

Medicine Hat company drawing in clients with witty signage

Apr 16, 2024

Medicine Hat College holding event for missing and murdered Indigenous women awareness day

Apr 16, 2024

This cold weather snap is expected to warm up by Saturday, with a high of minus 8 degrees Celsius, said Kulak.

Kulak warns of the risks to exposure outdoors and the importance of being dressed properly for the weather. Frostbite and hypothermia can occur quickly if people are not careful, he explained.

“If you’re starting to feel uncomfortable, think about heading in,” he said. “When you get to the point when you’re having trouble feeling your extremities, you need to get inside.”

He said a change in colour or numbness in your fingertips, toes, ears or nose can all indicate over exposure to the elements.

During the cold temperatures, Medicine Hat Police Service are asking people to be cautious when warming up vehicles. Cst. Brent Bohrn said they see an increase in vehicle thefts with the dropping of the thermometer.

“Make sure that you’re not leaving your vehicle running with the keys in it,” he said. “It makes it a target for vehicle theft and if we can reduce those numbers it will help us out and can save you in insurance claims.”

Bohrn said, not leaving keys in an idling unattended vehicle is the best way to prevent it from getting stolen.