Environment Canada reports that cold weather records were set in seven southern Alberta communities on October 26, 2023. (Photo: Naumoid | Dreamstime.com)

By David Opinko

Communities across southern Alberta set cold weather records Oct. 26

Oct 27, 2023 | 6:24 AM

CLARESHOLM, AB – Environment Canada said the “unseasonably cold temperatures” continued across the region on Thursday, October 26, 2023.

That has lead to a total of eight new daily minimum temperature records being set in southern Alberta for the day.

Claresholm got the coldest, reaching a low of -21.6 degrees Celsius, breaking the previous record of -16 set in 2020.

High River beat its record that had been standing for more than a full century. The mercury dipped down to -16.3, while the prior lowest temperature for an October 26 was -15 set in 1919.

The full list of new daily minimum temperature records in southern Alberta on October 26 are as follows:

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• Bow Island Area
  • New record of -17.5
  • Old record of -14.0 set in 2020
  • Records in this area have been kept since 1961
• Cardston Area
  • New record of -20.0
  • Old record of -17.8 set in 1939
  • Records in this area have been kept since 1918
• Claresholm Area
  • New record of -21.6
  • Old record of -16.0 set in 2020
  • Records in this area have been kept since 1951
• Crowsnest Area
  • New record of -18.6
  • Old record of -12.2 set in 1969
  • Records in this area have been kept since 1965
• High River Area
  • New record of -16.3
  • Old record of -15.0 set in 1919
  • Records in this area have been kept since 1913
• Pincher Creek Area
  • New record of -20.6
  • Old record of -15.9 set in 2012
  • Records in this area have been kept since 1893
• Taber Area
  • New record of -17.9
  • Old record of -13.9 set in 1951
  • Records in this area have been kept since 1947
• Waterton Park Area
  • New record of -21.4
  • Old record of -14.4 set in 2012
  • Records in this area have been kept since 1976

Medicine Hat dipped to a low of minus 16 for October 26, which was 5 degrees colder than it was on the same day in 2020, which had stood as the coldest October 26th this century.

Heading into this weekend, Environment Canada said the weather should start to warm up once again.

The forecast high for Saturday, October 28, 2023, is -2. The temperature should reach -1 on Sunday.

On Halloween, taking place this coming Tuesday, the temperature is expected to hit 4 degrees.