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Wind chill arriving with holidays
As we continue to dig out from the past few days’ heavy snowfall in the East Kootenay on the first day of winter, we can expect to experience even more of winter’s wrath heading toward the holiday weekend.
Frostbite inducing wind chills are forecasted for the Elk Valley and Kootenay National Park areas starting Dec. 22/23, as temperatures drop region-wide.
Environment Canada’s Christmas day forecast for Cranbrook/Kimberley and Columbia Valley areas is for a high of -10 C and a low of -21 C, with a mix of sun and cloud.
In the Elk Valley, a high of -14 C is expected, with lows of -21 C – not including wind chill.
Kootenay National Park is going to be even colder, but nice and sunny. Christmas day is expected to get to -16 C as a high and -26 C as a low.
Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting Ltd. this morning issued an alert to holiday travellers and commuters that with the wind chill factor, temperatures could plunge below -30 C, particularly in the Elk Valley and Kootenay National Park, so drivers and their vehicles should be prepared for these conditions.
Do not head out onto the highway unprepared; make sure you have sufficient clothing to keep you warm should your vehicle break down or you become stuck.
Before the chill arrives with the warmth of the holiday season, there is a chance of flurries throughout the East Kootenay over the next 24-36 hours but nothing significant, Mainroad reports.
“The weather will then turn very cold and stable for the next four to five days,” it noted. “Temperatures in this range call for the use of winter sand and slow moving graders so please give our maintenance equipment plenty of room to work.”
Mainroad crews are also starting to see increased traffic as well as wildlife activity so please exercise caution as you travel through the area.
Roads at this time (Dec. 21) in the region are in full winter conditions, with compact snow with slippery sections, and reports earlier today of black ice on Highway 3 between Elko and Fernie.
Mainroad says its crews will be on duty throughout the holiday season patrolling, plowing and sanding as conditions dictate so please watch for them.
Visit www.drivebc.ca for the latest road conditions.
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