Western Canada hit by extreme cold weather as low as -55 C

Frigid temperatures and arctic air are swept across most of the western provinces with wind chills dipping down to -55 C.

Environment Canada said all of Alberta and most of British Columbia and Saskatchewan, along with parts of Manitoba and Ontario are under extreme cold weather warnings. It said the wind chill can range between -40 C and -55 C in Edmonton and Calgary. 

Ski hills in and around Edmonton and Calgary and the Rocky Mountains have been closed for several days to to the extreme cold. 

Environment Canada says arctic outflow winds and low temperatures have also been forecast for much of British Columbia and that extreme cold could persist into next week. 

Some cities in Western Canada have opened emergency shelters and warming centres and Edmonton officials said Monday that they were suspending non-essential snow clearing.

Many cities in Western Canada have already opened emergency shelters and warming centres for people who aren’t able to stay outdoors, including Vancouver, where it was -11 on Monday. That’s almost a record low for the city, which was set in 1971 when it dipped to -12.8 degrees.