The polar vortex, which is currently sending temperatures below -40°C across the Canadian prairies, has led to record electricity consumption in Alberta and forced the cancellation of nearly 200 WestJet flights.
On Friday, temperatures reached peaks of -32°C in Edmonton and -31°C in Calgary, values from which we can deduct up to ten degrees when taking the wind factor into account.
The coming weekend promises to be particularly frosty in the capital, where temperatures are expected to drop to -40 °C overnight and from Saturday to Sunday.
“Temperatures will continue to drop over the weekend. Saturday and Sunday mornings will be coldest; Temperatures will range from -40 to -48 degrees Celsius and wind chill will be around -55 degrees,” Environment Canada warned.
Due to this cold snap, the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) has issued a warning that it will need to draw on its reserves to continue operating the power grid.
“We set a new record with peak demand last night at 6 p.m. when we reached consumption of 12,384 MW,” a spokesperson for the organization told CTV News, noting that this new record represents a mark established in December 2022 shadows.
The AESO urged Albertans to reduce their electricity use by, among other things, avoiding using large appliances during rush hour, turning down the heat and plugging cars in just an hour or two before driving to warm them up.
Canceled flights, broken cars
For its part, Calgary-based airline WestJet had to cancel 87 flights on Thursday and 104 flights on Friday, Global News reported.
In a press release, the company said the extreme cold is rendering aircraft de-icing fluids ineffective and preventing the use of certain equipment.
The Alberta Automobile Association, for its part, told the Edmonton Journal that it has already had to respond to more than 10,000 service calls from Tuesday to Thursday, the vast majority of which involved vehicles refusing to start in cold weather.
It won't be until Monday that Albertans will be able to return to relatively more comfortable temperatures, with a maximum of -20°C expected in Edmonton.