The City of St. Albert activated its extreme cold weather response yesterday, March 4, and plans to keep its response measures in place until Thursday.
While Tuesday's daytime high is expected to be -14 degrees C, the Weather Network is forecasting an overnight low of -30 degrees C, or -37 C with the windchill.
Temperatures are then expected to warm back up to -16 degrees C on Wednesday, before again dropping to -26 degrees C overnight.
St. Albert's extreme cold response focuses on ensuring those outside can access city facilities like St. Albert Place or the Jensen Lakes Library to warm up.
“If you do not have access to a heated location of your own, please visit... public buildings to get out of the cold,” the city's website reads. “The City has initiated enhanced services to ensure everyone’s safety as we face these extreme weather conditions.”
“Members of our community, including those who are vulnerably unhoused, are most at risk. Keep your eyes open for people who may be struggling with the frigid temperatures.”
As part of the city's extreme cold response, those outside who are looking to get to a city facility can ride a transit bus at no cost.
The last time the city activated its extreme cold measures was in January, and as a result of the frigid temperatures at the time the St. Albert Food Bank and Community Village managed to temporarily shelter 14 community members who had nowhere to stay.
Last month the food bank's executive director, Suzan Krecsy, told the Gazette that 14 was a record breaking number of people who sought shelter through the food bank during a cold stretch.
READ MORE: Food bank sheltered 14 people during January cold stretch
