CLARKWATCH: Follow news and updates regarding sanctions on Mayor Clark.

Arctic air mass keeping temperatures below seasonal levels this week

Apr 2, 2018 | 4:33 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Below seasonal temperatures are expected to continue in Medicine Hat for at least the next week.

“An Arctic air mass slumped over the prairies later last week, and it pretty much sits over the prairies for the rest of this week,” said Chris Wielki, meteorologist with Environment Canada, over the phone from Edmonton. “(There’s) maybe some signs of it warming up next week.”

Wielki says at this time of the year, the normal high in Medicine Hat is approximately 11 degrees Celcius.

The cold temperatures across Alberta resulted in several records being broken around the province.

In Pincher Creek, a temperature of -21 degrees Celsius was recorded, breaking the record of -20.6 degrees recorded in 1936. In Red Deer, a low of -22 degrees was recorded, shattering the previous record of -19.4 degrees set in 1973. Grande Prairie saw the thermometer fall to -30, breaking the 1935 record low of -26.7 degrees.

Medicine Hat didn’t see any records broken, however, only hitting a low of -15 degrees on Saturday. The record low for March 31 in Medicine Hat was -23.3 degrees, and was set in 1899.

Medicine Hat hit a high of -2 degrees on Monday. The temperature is forecast to hit 4 degrees by Wednesday, but fall to 1 degree by Saturday.