Winter weather triggers City’s Extreme Weather Response Protocols

The City of Lethbridge has activated its Extreme Weather Response Protocols to provide a safe and warm space for residents without shelter.

The following facilities are now open as comfort centres to provide shelter from the weather:

• Lethbridge Public Library Main branch
  • Mon. & Tues. - 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Wed. & Fri. - 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
  • Sat. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
  • Sun. 1 – 5 p.m.
• Lethbridge Public Library Crossings Branch
  • Mon - Wed. - 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
  • Thurs. & Fri. – 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Sat. – 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
  • Sun. – 1 – 5 p.m.
    
    
• Regional Park n’ Ride Transit terminal
  • Mon. - Fri. – 7a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Sat. - 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Sun. - 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

• Helen Schuler Nature Centre
  
  • Tues. - Fri. - 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
  • Sat. & Sun. - 1 - 4 p.m.

More daytime community supports are available at the following organizations:

• Interfaith Foodbank
• Lethbridge Foodbank
• Lethbridge Soup Kitchen
• Streets Alive

Key weather points

• Extreme cold temperatures and wind chill is forecast late this week.
• Arctic air will continue to move south through the province settling in by Wednesday, January 10.
• The coldest air is forecast for Thursday night into Saturday, but could last through the weekend.
• Minimum temperatures could fall to -40°C near both Edmonton and Calgary on Friday and Saturday morning.
• Wind chills are likely to be near or colder than -45.
• Daytime highs are likely around -30°C.
• The coldest days will be this weekend with a slight improvement into next week, but certainty isn’t high for the timing of the improvement.
• Next week, temperatures are still expected to be near -20°C to -15°C in central Alberta (Edmonton) and improving to -15°C to -10°C in much of Southern Alberta, including Calgary.

Potential impacts of weather

• Frostbite is possible in minutes at these temperatures, there is a substantial threat to vulnerable populations and anyone with a requirement to be outdoors.

• Extreme cold temperatures of this magnitude can lead to impacts on infrastructure, including freezing waterlines.

Check the latest weather updates and forecasts at the Environment Canada website and for more information on the City’s protocols, click here.

For Public Inquiries:

Call 311 | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.