Calgary is no longer facing snow squall conditions, but a deep freeze is settling over the city and much of southern Alberta.
Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Friday, saying the heavy bands of snow originally anticipated are not expected to be as severe.
However, the forecast still calls for blowing snow and bone-chilling temperatures.
As of Friday morning, the windchill in Calgary was hovering around -31 C, with an actual temperature of -20.
Cold temperatures are expected to continue through the weekend, with a high of -20 Saturday and -15 on Sunday.
The weather will improve early next week, and the mercury will rise as the days go on.
Story continues after the slideshow:
Things To Love And Hate About Alberta Winters
According to CTV News, the cold snap is causing flight cancellations at the Calgary International Airport, with the majority of affected flights serving Canadian destinations.
The wintry blast also brings with it big snowfall to the Rocky Mountains, and Avalanche Canada says the potential for avalanches is high.
“People have to look at the mountains with their avalanche eyes. The mountains don’t care how badly you want to shred or how long you’ve been waiting to ski something steep and deep. We have to make decisions on the mountains’ terms this weekend," Joe Lammers, public avalanche forecaster with Avalanche Canada, told the Calgary Herald.
Lammers says as the weather improves and the temperatures fall, the potential for human-triggered avalanches will go down, but that anyone enjoying the backcountry should be vigilant and use their best judgement.
Watch our favourite weather forecaster's predictions and warnings for the weekend. Thanks, Frankie!
