Some snowfall and cold temperatures are what residents can expect this week and and beyond in the northwest. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Holiday freeze

Cold Christmas ahead in the Battlefords, Meadow Lake

Dec 21, 2021 | 4:48 PM

This Christmas, a true Canadian weather is ahead for residents in northwest Saskatchewan.

Light snow is falling in Lloydminster, the Battlefords and Meadow Lake this evening, with further periods of snow expected on Wednesday and Thursday. Meteorologist Terri Lang said there’s as much as five centimetres ahead in the Battlefords and potentially more in communities further north as multiple systems move through the region. Most of the snowfall should occur in the evening.

Meadow Lake will hit highs of -16 Celsius Wednesday and Thursday, with the Battlefords faring much warmer at -12 C and -9 C.

“We’ll get a little bit of a warm up as the system trucks through,” Lang said. “Then the winds are going to switch around and that’s where we are going to see the real switch really cold air that’s going to come in.”

The northwest might see snow on Thursday, but the primary effect is likely heavy wind. Lang said Thursday afternoon will be tricky for those driving thanks to either falling snow or blowing snow through the afternoon and into the evening.

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“Then, into the deep freeze we go.”

Temperatures will drop over the holidays significantly, with -20 C on Friday, -25 C Christmas Day and -25 C on Sunday in the Battlefords. Meadow Lake is expecting -21 C on Christmas Eve, -27 C Christmas afternoon and -25 C on Boxing Day. While the forecast has a small chance of flurries heading into next week, Lang said the region won’t see much in the way of further precipitation.

“We generally don’t see a lot of snow when we have the cold air and when we do, it’s usually quite light,” she said. “But those temperatures can be quite cold and we may see some extreme cold warnings.”

“We’re likely not seeing any moisture come in from B.C. until at least the New Year.”

For families hoping to spend time outdoors on the weekend, Lang warned that these temperatures aren’t ideal for prolonged activities like skating and sledding. While there aren’t any record temperatures expected, as those numbers in the Battlefords and Meadow Lake are in the -40 C range, there are also wind chills that risk frostbite and hyperthermia, warranting a vigilant eye on cold warnings and the Highway Hotline.

“You might have to rethink plans and bring out the board games instead,” Lang said.

Precautions for drivers include making sure emergency kits, warm blankets and other critical items are in the vehicle for highway travel.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW