By Greg Higgins/battlefordsNOW

Unseasonably cold weather should average out next week

Nov 15, 2017 | 10:00 AM

The Battlefords have been experiencing well below average temperatures since the start of the month and while Environment Canada expects average temperatures the rest of the season, average for the area is still incredibly cold and residents need to be prepared.

According to John Paul Cragg, warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, the average temperature in November for the Battlefords is -6 C, but so far this month the average has been closer to -11 C.

He doesn’t expect the unseasonably low temperatures to continue though.

“The below average temperatures should continue through Friday and Saturday,” Cragg said. “After that though we will be looking at more average temperatures for the rest of the month and that trend should continue through January.”

Cragg added average temperatures for the Battlefords in winter can still fluctuate to -30 C and -40 C with the wind chill.

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“At those temperatures frostbite can happen in as little as five minutes to exposed skin.”

Cragg advised residents to always be prepared for extreme cold especially for people new to the province who may come from warmer climates. He said gloves and hats that cover the ears are absolute must haves. 

When it comes to how much snow is expected this winter, Cragg said that is almost impossible to predict. He added the Battlefords could be in for 10 to 15 centimetres of the white stuff tomorrow, so he advised residents to plan accordingly if they are travelling and to drive safe. 

greg.higgins@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @realgreghiggins